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HB469 • 2026

First Circuit Court District; increase number of judges.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-7-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF JUDGES IN THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 9-7-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE COUNTY COMPOSITION OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Thompson
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not provide specific details on how the new judgeship will be named or detailed changes in county composition rules, only that it increases the number of judges and updates related sections.

Increase Number of Judges for First Circuit Court District

This bill proposes to increase the number of judges in the First Circuit Court District from four to five and updates the rules about where these judges must live.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds one more judge to the First Circuit Court District, making a total of five judges.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Judges in the First Circuit Court District
  • People living in Alcorn, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, and Tishomingo Counties

Terms To Know

Circuit Court District
A group of counties that share the same set of judges for legal cases.
Judgeship
The position or office of a judge in a court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass and was stopped by the committee on February 3, 2026.
  • It is unclear how this change would affect the workload or efficiency of the courts.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/12 (H) Referred To Judiciary A

Official Summary Text

First Circuit Court District; increase number of judges.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 469 *HR43/R271* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R271
PAGE 1 (GT\KP)

To: Judiciary A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Thompson

HOUSE BILL NO. 469

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-7-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF JUDGES IN THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; 2
TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 9-7-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH 3
PROVIDES FOR THE COUNTY COMPOSITION OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT 4
DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 9-7-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
[Until January 1, 2027, this section shall read as follows:] 9
9-7-7. (1) There shall be four (4) judges for the First 10
Circuit Court District. 11
(2) The four (4) judgeships shall be separate and distinct 12
and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as 13
"Place One," "Place Two," "Place Three" and "Place Four." The 14
judge to fill Place One must reside in Alcorn, Prentiss or 15
Tishomingo County. The judges to fill Place Two and Place Three 16
must reside in Itawamba, Lee, Monroe or Pontotoc County. The 17
judge to fill Place Four may be a resident of any county in the 18
district. Election of the four (4) offices of judge shall be by 19
H. B. No. 469 *HR43/R271* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R271
PAGE 2 (GT\KP)

election to be held in every county within the First Circuit Court 20
District. 21
[From and after January 1, 2027, this section shall read as 22
follows:] 23
9-7-7. (1) There shall be * * *five (5) judges for the 24
First Circuit Court District. 25
(2) The * * * five (5) judgeships shall be separate and 26
distinct and denominated for purposes of appointment and election 27
only as "Place One," "Place Two," "Place Three" * * *, "Place 28
Four * * *" and "Place Five." The judge to fill Place One shall 29
be a resident of Alcorn, Prentiss or Tishomingo County. The 30
judges to fill Place Two and Place Three shall be residents of a 31
county in the district. The judges to fill Place Four and Place 32
Five shall be a residents of Itawamba, Monroe or Pontotoc County. 33
Election of the * * * five (5) offices of judge shall be by 34
election to be held in every county within the First Circuit Court 35
District. 36
SECTION 2. Section 9-7-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 37
brought forward as follows: 38
9-7-5. The First Circuit Court District is composed of the 39
following counties: 40
(a) Alcorn County; 41
(b) Itawamba County; 42
(c) Lee County; 43
(d) Monroe County; 44
H. B. No. 469 *HR43/R271* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R271
PAGE 3 (GT\KP)
ST: First Circuit Court District; increase
number of judges.
(e) Pontotoc County; 45
(f) Prentiss County; and 46
(g) Tishomingo County. 47
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 48
and after July 1, 2026. 49