Bill Text: MS HB1226 | 2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Justice court judges; revise population requirements for.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)
Status: (Passed) 2014-04-23 - Approved by Governor [HB1226 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-HB1226-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Judiciary B; Appropriations
By: Representatives Bain, Horan, Arnold, Boyd, Carpenter, Steverson, Whittington
House Bill 1226
(As Sent to Governor)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE COUNTY POPULATION REQUIREMENTS FOR JUSTICE COURT JUDGES; TO CLARIFY THAT A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF JUSTICE COURT JUDGES IS NOT AUTHORIZED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 9-11-2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
9-11-2. (1) From and after January 1, 1984, there shall be a competent number of justice court judges in each county of the state. The number of justice court judges for each county shall be determined as follows:
(a) In counties with a population, according to the latest federal decennial census, of thirty-five thousand (35,000) and less, there shall be two (2) justice court judges unless the board of supervisors, by resolution duly spread upon its minutes, finds that one (1) justice court judge is a competent number to adequately handle the needs of the citizens of the county.
(b) In counties with a population, according to the latest federal decennial census, of more than thirty-five thousand (35,000) and less than seventy thousand (70,000), there shall be three (3) justice court judges, unless the board of supervisors, by resolution duly spread upon its minutes, finds that two (2) is a competent number of justice court judges to adequately handle the needs of the citizens of the county.
(c) In counties with a population, according to the latest federal decennial census, of seventy thousand (70,000) and less than one hundred fifty thousand (150,000), there shall be four (4) justice court judges, unless the board of supervisors, by resolution duly spread upon its minutes, finds that three (3) is a competent number of justice court judges to adequately handle the needs of the citizens of the county.
(d) In counties with a population, according to the latest federal decennial census, of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) and more, there shall be five (5) justice court judges, unless the board of supervisors, by resolution duly spread upon its minutes, finds that four (4) is a competent number of justice court judges to adequately handle the needs of the citizens of the county.
(2) The board of
supervisors shall establish single member election districts in the county for
the election of each of the justice court judges authorized and required to be
elected for the county under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section,
and one (1) justice court judge shall be elected for each district by the
electors thereof. In any county authorized and required under the provisions
of * * *
subsection (1)(a) of this section to provide for the election of two (2)
justice court judges for the county in which there are two (2) judicial
districts, the smaller of such judicial districts, according to population
based upon the latest federal decennial census, shall comprise or shall be
wholly encompassed within one (1) of such election districts.
(3) (a) Nothing in
this section shall be construed to authorize or require more than five (5)
justice court judges in any one (1) county from and after January 1, 1984, nor
to authorize or require an increase * * * in the number of justice court
judges for any county during the term of office of any justice court judge.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or require a county to decrease the number of justice court judge positions in the county as of June 30, 2014.
* * *
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.
