Mississippi's courts operate in all 82 counties, in dozens of city halls, and in county seats whose courthouses are more than a century old. Suppose you need to contest a speeding ticket in Brandon, file a small claim in Clarksdale, or follow a felony case in Natchez. The first job is working out which court has authority over the matter. The name on the building answers that question, and this page explains how to read it.

How the Mississippi Court System Is Layered

At the top sits the Mississippi Supreme Court in Jackson. Its nine justices hear appeals and write the rules of procedure that every other court follows. Below it, the Mississippi Court of Appeals, created in 1995 and made up of ten judges, decides many of the cases the Supreme Court assigns to it. Neither court holds trials. They review what happened in the courts below.

Trial courts come next. Circuit courts are the general-jurisdiction courts for felonies and larger civil disputes. Chancery courts handle matters of equity: divorce, child custody, probate, guardianships, adoptions and land title disputes. The state is divided into 22 circuit court districts and 20 chancery court districts. Judges in both are elected to four-year terms and must be licensed attorneys.

The Administrative Office of Courts, based in Jackson, supports the system with statewide statistics, judicial training and technology. It does not review the outcome of your individual case. Complaints about a judge's conduct go to the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance, which is a separate body.

The Mississippi Constitution of 1890 and Title 9 of the Mississippi Code set out how these courts are organised. When a clerk tells you a matter belongs in a different court, that is usually the statute talking, not a personal preference.

Justice, Municipal, County, Circuit and Chancery: Which Door to Knock On

Justice courts handle everyday county business

Every county has justice courts, and they are the busiest courts for ordinary residents. Justice court judges hear misdemeanors that happen outside city limits. They also conduct initial appearances and preliminary hearings after felony arrests, issue arrest and search warrants, process evictions, and decide civil claims up to $3,500. That limit makes them Mississippi's small-claims venue.

Our listings include Clarksdale Justice Court on Ritch Street, Canton Justice Court on South Liberty Street, Vicksburg Justice Court on Farmer Street and Hattiesburg Justice Court on Main Street. Each serves its county in this role. Justice court judges are elected to four-year terms. They are not required to be lawyers, but they must complete judicial training offered through the state.

Municipal courts handle offenses inside city limits

If the offense happened inside a city, the municipal court usually takes it. Brandon Municipal Court at 1455 West Government Street, Biloxi Municipal Court at 170 Porter Avenue and Meridian Municipal Court at 2415 6th Street handle traffic citations, city ordinance violations and many state misdemeanors. A city's governing authority generally appoints the municipal judge.

Municipal courts do not hold jury trials. If you are convicted and appeal, the case is tried again from the beginning in county court or circuit court, depending on the county. That makes the first hearing worth preparing for, even over a minor charge.

County, circuit and chancery courts take the larger matters

County courts exist only in some Mississippi counties. Lamar County Court in Purvis, on Main Street, is one in our listings. Where a county court exists, it takes certain civil cases and misdemeanor appeals and often serves as the youth court. In counties without one, youth matters go to chancery court.

Circuit courts try felonies after a grand jury returns an indictment. They also hear civil suits above the justice court limit. Examples include Jackson Circuit Court on East Pascagoula Street, Columbus Circuit Court on 2nd Avenue North, Alcorn County Circuit Court in Corinth and Natchez Circuit Court at the Old Courthouse. The circuit clerk keeps the records for these courts.

Metro Courthouses and Rural Delta Courts Work Differently in Mississippi

Hinds County, home to the capital, is divided into two judicial districts with courthouses in Jackson and Raymond. Before you drive anywhere, confirm which district your case sits in, because the case number and the clerk's office depend on it. Jackson also hosts the state's appellate courts, so the downtown area holds courts at nearly every level within a few blocks.

The Gulf Coast follows a similar pattern. Harrison County has two judicial districts, one in Gulfport and one in Biloxi. Both cities also run their own municipal courts: Gulfport Municipal Court at 2810 34th Avenue and Biloxi Municipal Court at 170 Porter Avenue. A ticket written inside either city goes to the city court, not the county courthouse. Coastal caseloads also swing with tourism, so expect crowded dockets in summer.

East of Jackson, Rankin County is one of the faster-growing counties in the state. Brandon is the county seat and holds both the county courts and Brandon Municipal Court. The county's suburban commuter population means many residents handle traffic matters or civil filings close to home rather than traveling into Hinds County.

The Delta looks different. Bolivar County has the most listings of any county in our database because it has two judicial districts, one centered on Cleveland and one on Rosedale, plus several town courts. Cleveland Municipal Court sits at 100 North Street. Smaller Delta counties often have a single courthouse square holding the circuit clerk, chancery clerk and justice court, and the drive from outlying farm communities can be long.

Hill-country towns in the northeast are similar. Booneville Municipal Court on East Chambers Drive serves Prentiss County residents, and Itawamba Circuit Court on West Main Street in Fulton anchors that county. In these areas, a single clerk's office may answer questions for several court types, but the clerk still cannot tell you which one to file in.

What to Bring and How to Confirm Before Driving to a Mississippi Courthouse

Many Mississippi justice and municipal courts hold court on set days rather than every weekday. A courthouse can be open for the clerk's counter while the judge sits only on a Tuesday or Thursday. A short phone call can save a wasted trip. Before you go, gather the following:

Clerks can explain deadlines, forms and fees, but they cannot give legal advice. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the Mississippi Center for Legal Services and the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project help income-eligible residents with civil matters such as evictions, family law and consumer disputes. The Mississippi Bar also runs a lawyer referral service. If you are charged with a crime and cannot afford counsel, tell the judge at your first appearance and ask for a public defender or appointed attorney. Do not wait until the trial date.

Dress neatly, arrive early, and expect to pass through a security screening at most courthouses. Phones usually have to be silenced, and some courts restrict them entirely inside the courtroom.

Courts in Mississippi operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Mississippi Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 236 cities across Mississippi. They are spread across 80 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Brandon, Clarksdale, Natchez, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Mississippi should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of Mississippi who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Mississippi to find the nearest location.

Phone First: Court Days and Counter Hours Across Mississippi

Court schedules vary more from county to county than most people expect. The listings in our database give you a starting point, but the best habit is to call the number and ask when the judge sits. Clarksdale Justice Court, at 144 Ritch Street, can be reached at 662-624-3060. Hattiesburg Justice Court, at 641 Main Street, is at 601-544-3136. Lee Justice Court, at 331 North Broadway Street in Tupelo, answers at 662-841-9014 and serves the largest city in northeast Mississippi.

On the Gulf Coast, Hancock Justice Court at 3068 Longfellow Road in Bay Saint Louis can be reached at 228-255-5808. In the north and east, Monroe Justice Court in Amory is at 662-256-8493, and Ackerman Circuit Court in Choctaw County is at 662-285-6245. In south Mississippi, Magnolia Municipal Court, at 255 South Cherry Street, answers at 601-783-9926. Yazoo City Circuit Court, at 211 East Broadway Street, is at 662-746-1872.

When you call, have your full name and case or citation number ready. Ask three things: which day the judge hears your type of case, what payment methods the clerk accepts, and whether a lawyer's letter or written plea can be submitted in your place. Courts do change addresses and hours, so treat any directory entry as a pointer, not a promise.

Mississippi justice courts decide civil claims up to $3,500, which is the practical small-claims limit. You generally file with the justice court clerk in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose. In Hattiesburg, for example, that would be Hattiesburg Justice Court on Main Street in Forrest County. Bring any contract, receipt or photo evidence, and ask the clerk about the filing fee and how the defendant will be served. Claims above $3,500 usually go to county court, where one exists, or to circuit or chancery court. Both sides may hire a lawyer, but many people represent themselves.

It depends on where the officer wrote the ticket. A citation issued inside city limits goes to that city's municipal court, such as Gulfport Municipal Court at 2810 34th Avenue (228-868-5855) or Meridian Municipal Court at 2415 6th Street (601-485-1839). A citation issued on a county road or state highway outside a city usually goes to the justice court of that county. The ticket itself normally names the court and a date. If it does not, call the clerk with your citation number before the deadline passes. Missing a court date can lead to additional penalties or license consequences.

Chancery court handles divorce, child custody and support, probate of wills and estates, guardianships, adoptions and legal name changes. You file with the chancery clerk in the county courthouse, which is a different office from the circuit clerk. The chancery clerk also keeps land records, so people recording a deed visit the same counter. Our listings focus on circuit, justice, municipal and county courts, so confirm the chancery clerk's address with your county courthouse. If the county has two judicial districts, as Hinds, Harrison and Bolivar do, file in the district where you live or where the property sits.

It depends on the court. Circuit judges, chancellors, and the judges of the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court must be licensed attorneys, and they are chosen in nonpartisan elections. Justice court judges are also elected, to four-year terms, but they do not have to hold a law degree. They are required to complete judicial training. Municipal judges are generally appointed by the city's governing authority. If you have a concern about a judge's behavior, the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance reviews complaints about judicial conduct, though it cannot change the outcome of your case.

After an arrest, the person appears before a justice court or municipal judge for an initial appearance, where bail is set and counsel is discussed. A preliminary hearing may follow. The case then goes to a grand jury, and an indictment sends it to circuit court for arraignment and trial. In Lowndes County, that means Columbus Circuit Court on 2nd Avenue North. In Alcorn County, it means the circuit court in Corinth. Questions about bond or trial dates should go to the circuit clerk, and questions about your defense should go to your attorney, not the clerk.

Most court hearings in Mississippi are open to the public, with exceptions such as youth court proceedings, which are generally closed. Court records are kept by the clerk of the court that heard the case. Some circuit and chancery clerks participate in the Mississippi Electronic Courts system, but availability varies by county, so call before assuming records are online. In the Delta, Coahoma County residents can start with the clerk's office or Clarksdale Justice Court. Bring the case number and a photo ID, and expect to pay copying fees for certified copies.

If your question falls outside these answers, start with the clerk in the county seat and ask which court has authority. You can also browse our county pages, such as Lee County, to compare nearby courthouses before you go.