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H. B. No. 580 *HR26/R1600SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Horan
HOUSE BILL NO. 580
(As Sent to Governor)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-7-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
REVISE THE JUDICIAL PRECINCTS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT 2
DISTRICT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 9-7-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 3
1972, WHICH PROVIDES THE NUMBER OF JUDGES FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT 4
COURT DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 9-7-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 5
TO REVISE THE PRECINCTS FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT FOR 6
THE "FROM JANUARY 1, 2027, UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2031" TIER FOR THE 7
SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 9-7-25, 8
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES THE NUMBER OF JUDGES FOR 9
THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE CONDITIONAL 10
QUALIFYING DEADLINES FOR JUDICIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE 4TH AND 7TH 11
CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 12
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 13
SECTION 1. Section 9-7-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 14
amended as follows: 15
[Until January 1, 2031, this section shall read as follows:] 16
9-7-15. (1) The Fourth Circuit Court District shall be 17
composed of the following counties: 18
(a) Leflore County; 19
(b) Sunflower County; and 20
(c) Washington County. 21
(2) The Fourth Circuit Court District shall be divided into 22
four (4) subdistricts as follows: 23
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(a) Subdistrict 4-1 shall consist of the following 24
precincts in the following counties: 25
(i) Leflore County: Central Greenwood* Minter 26
City, Money, North Greenwood, Northeast Greenwood, Schlater, West 27
Greenwood, Mississippi Valley State University and Southeast 28
Greenwood Precincts; and 29
(ii) Sunflower County: Ruleville, Rome, Sunflower 30
Plantation, Drew, Doddsville, Boyer-Linn, Fairview-Hale and 31
Ruleville North Precincts. 32
(b) Subdistrict 4-2 shall consist of the following 33
precincts in the following counties: 34
* * * 35
( * * *i) Sunflower County: Sunflower, Indianola 36
3 North, Indianola 3 South*, Indianola Southeast and Indianola 3 37
Northeast Precincts; and 38
( * * *ii) Washington County: Darlove Baptist 39
Church*, Extension Building, Lake Vista Masonic Lodge, Metcalfe 40
City Hall, Elks Club*, Leland Rotary Club, Leland Health 41
Department Clinic. 42
(c) Subdistrict 4-3 shall consist of the following 43
precincts in the following counties: 44
(i) Leflore County: Central Greenwood*, East 45
Greenwood, Morgan City/Swiftown, North Itta Bena, Rising Sun, 46
Sidon, South Greenwood, South Itta Bena, Southwest Greenwood and 47
West Greenwood*; 48
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(ii) Sunflower County: Moorhead, Inverness, 49
Indianola 3 South*, Indianola 2 West and Indianola 2 East 50
Precincts; and 51
( * * *iii) Washington County: Arcola Technology 52
Center*, Hollandale City Hall and Darlove Baptist Church*. 53
(d) Subdistrict 4-4 shall consist of the following 54
precincts in Washington County: Arcola Technology Center*, St. 55
James Episcopal Church*, Swiftwater Baptist Church, Glen Allan 56
Health Clinic, Elks Club*, Ward's Recreation Center, Buster Brown 57
Community Center, Covenant Presbyterian, Jakes Chapel M.B. 58
Church*, Brent Center, Tampa Drive and Washington County 59
Convention Center Precincts. 60
(3) The local contributions required for the maintenance of 61
the Fourth Circuit Court District shall be paid on a pro rata 62
basis each by Leflore, Sunflower and Washington Counties. 63
[From and after January 1, 2031, this section shall read as 64
follows:] 65
9-7-15. (1) The Fourth Circuit Court District shall be 66
composed of the following counties: 67
(a) Holmes County; 68
(b) Humphreys County; 69
(c) Leflore County; 70
(d) Sunflower County; and 71
(e) Washington County. 72
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(2) The Fourth Circuit Court District shall be divided 73
into * * * two (2) subdistricts as follows: 74
(a) Subdistrict 4-1 shall consist of Washington and 75
Sunflower Counties. 76
(b) Subdistrict 4-2 shall consist of Leflore, Holmes 77
and Humphreys Counties. 78
SECTION 2. Section 9-7-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 79
brought forward as follows: 80
[Until January 1, 2031, this section shall read as follows:] 81
9-7-17. There shall be four (4) circuit judges for the 82
Fourth Circuit Court District. One (1) circuit judge shall be 83
elected from each subdistrict. 84
[From and after January 1, 2031, this section shall read as 85
follows:] 86
9-7-17. There shall be four (4) circuit judges for the 87
Fourth Circuit Court District. Two (2) circuit judges shall be 88
elected from each subdistrict. The judgeships shall be separate 89
and distinct and denominated only as "Subdistrict 4-1, Place One", 90
"Subdistrict 4-1, Place Two", "Subdistrict 4-2, Place Three" and 91
"Subdistrict 4-2, Place Four". 92
SECTION 3. Section 9-7-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 93
amended as follows: 94
[Until January 1, 2027, this section shall read as follows:] 95
9-7-23. (1) The Seventh Circuit Court District shall be 96
Hinds County. 97
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(2) The Seventh Circuit Court District shall be divided into 98
four (4) subdistricts in Hinds County as follows: 99
(a) Subdistrict 7-1 shall consist of the following 100
precincts in Hinds County: 32*, 44, 45, 46, 47*, 72, 73, 74, 75, 101
76, 77, 78, 79, 92, 93, 96 and 97. 102
(b) Subdistrict 7-2 shall consist of the following 103
precincts in Hinds County: 11*, 12*, 13*, 16*, 23, 27, 28, 29, 104
30, 38, 39*, 40, 41, 42*, 43*, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 105
Brownsville, Cynthia, Pocahontas and Tinnin. 106
(c) Subdistrict 7-3 shall consist of the following 107
precincts in Hinds County: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 31, 108
49*, 50, 51*, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58*, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63*, 109
64*, 67, 68, 69, 70*, 71, 86 and 89. 110
(d) Subdistrict 7-4 shall consist of the following 111
precincts in Hinds County: 87, 88, 90, 91, 94, 95, Bolton, Byram 112
1, Byram 2, Byram 3, Cayuga, Chapel Hill, Clinton 1, Clinton 2, 113
Clinton 3, Clinton 4, Clinton 5, Clinton 6, Clinton 7, Dry Grove, 114
Edwards, Learned, Old Byram, Pinehaven, Raymond 1, Raymond 2, 115
Spring Ridge, St. Thomas, Terry 1, Terry 2, Utica 1 and Utica 2. 116
(e) Subdistrict 7-5 shall consist of all precincts 117
located within the boundaries of the Capitol Complex Improvement 118
District as described by Section 29-5-203. 119
[From January 1, 2027, until January 1, 2031, this section 120
shall read as follows:] 121
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9-7-23. (1) The Seventh Circuit Court District shall be 122
Claiborne, Hinds and Jefferson County. 123
(2) The Seventh Circuit Court District shall be divided into 124
six (6) subdistricts as follows: 125
(a) Subdistrict 7-1 shall consist of the following 126
precincts in Hinds County: 1, 10, 2, 32 * * *, 33, 34, 35, 36, 4, 127
44, 45, 46, 47 * * *, 6, 8, 9, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 92, 128
93, 96 and 97. 129
(b) Subdistrict 7-2 shall consist of the following 130
precincts in Hinds County: 11 * * *, 12 * * *, 13 * * *, 131
16 * * *, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 37, 38, 39 * * *, 40, 41, 42 * * *, 132
43 * * *, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, Brownsville, Cynthia, Pocahontas 133
and Tinnin. 134
(c) Subdistrict 7-3 shall consist of the following 135
precincts in Hinds County: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 31, 136
49 * * *, 50, 51 * * *, 52, * * * 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 * * *, 59, 137
60, 61, 62, 63 * * *, 64 * * *, 67, 68, 69, 70 * * *, 71, 86 and 138
89. 139
(d) Subdistrict 7-4 shall consist of the following 140
precincts in Hinds County: 87, 88, 90, 91, 94, 95, Bolton, Byram 141
1, Byram 2, Byram 3, Cayuga, Chapel Hill, Clinton 1, Clinton 2, 142
Clinton 3, Clinton 4, Clinton 5, Clinton 6, Clinton 7, Dry Grove, 143
Edwards, Learned, Old Byram, Pinehaven, Raymond 1, Raymond 2, 144
Spring Ridge, St. Thomas, Terry 1, Terry 2, Utica 1 and Utica 2. 145
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(e) Subdistrict 7-5 shall consist of Claiborne and 146
Jefferson County. 147
(f) Subdistrict 7-6 shall consist of * * * the 148
following precincts located within the boundaries of the Capitol 149
Complex Improvement District * * *: 1, 10, 11*, 12*, 13*, 14, 150
16*, 17, 2, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39*, 4, 47*, 49*, 50, 51*, 151
58*, 6, 63*, 64*, 70*, 8 and 9. 152
[From and after January 1, 2031, this section shall read as 153
follows:] 154
9-7-23. The Seventh Circuit Court District is composed of 155
the following counties: 156
(a) Claiborne County; 157
(b) Hinds County; and 158
(c) Jefferson County. 159
SECTION 4. Section 9-7-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 160
brought forward as follows: 161
[Until January 1, 2027, this section shall read as follows:] 162
9-7-25. (1) There shall be five (5) circuit judges for the 163
Seventh Circuit Court District. One (1) judge shall be elected 164
from each subdistrict. 165
(2) While there shall be no limitation whatsoever upon the 166
powers and duties of the said judges other than as cast upon them 167
by the Constitution and laws of this state, the court in the First 168
Judicial District of Hinds County, in the discretion of the senior 169
circuit judge, may be divided into civil and criminal divisions as 170
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a matter of convenience, by the entry of an order upon the minutes 171
of the court. 172
[From January 1, 2027, until January 1, 2031, this section 173
shall read as follows:] 174
9-7-25. There shall be six (6) circuit judges for the 175
Seventh Circuit Court District. The judgeships shall be separate 176
and distinct. One (1) judge shall be elected from each 177
subdistrict. 178
[From January 1, 2031, until January 1, 2035, this section 179
shall read as follows:] 180
9-7-25. (1) There shall be six (6) circuit judges for the 181
Seventh Circuit Court District. The judgeships shall be separate 182
and distinct. 183
(2) The Seventh Circuit Court District shall be divided into 184
three (3) subdistricts as follows: 185
(a) Subdistrict 7-1 shall consist of Hinds County; 186
(b) Subdistrict 7-2 shall consist of Claiborne and 187
Jefferson Counties; and 188
(c) Subdistrict 7-3 shall consist of all precincts 189
located within the boundaries of the Capitol Complex Improvement 190
District as described in Section 29-5-203. 191
(3) Four (4) judges shall be elected from subdistrict 7-1. 192
The judgeships for subdistrict 7-1 shall be separate and distinct 193
and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as 194
"Subdistrict 7-1, Place One", "Subdistrict 7-1, Place Two", 195
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"Subdistrict 7-1, Place Three", and "Subdistrict 7-1, Place Four". 196
For subdistricts 7-2 and 7-3, one (1) judge shall be elected from 197
each subdistrict. 198
[From and after January 1, 2035, this section shall read as 199
follows:] 200
9-7-25. (1) There shall be five (5) circuit judges for the 201
Seventh Circuit Court District. The judgeships shall be separate 202
and distinct. 203
(2) The Seventh Circuit Court District shall be divided into 204
two (2) subdistricts as follows: 205
(a) Subdistrict 7-1 shall consist of Hinds County; and 206
(b) Subdistrict 7-2 shall consist of Claiborne and 207
Jefferson Counties. 208
(3) Four (4) judges shall be elected from subdistrict 7-1. 209
The judgeships for subdistrict 7-1 shall be separate and distinct 210
and denominated for purposes of appointment and election only as 211
"Subdistrict 7-1, Place One", "Subdistrict 7-1, Place Two", 212
"Subdistrict 7-1, Place Three", and "Subdistrict 7-1, Place Four". 213
One (1) judge shall be elected from subdistrict 7-2. 214
SECTION 5. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of 215
general law, any candidate for the offices of circuit judge for 216
the Fourth Circuit Court District whose term of office begins 217
January 1, 2027, shall file his or her intent to be a candidate no 218
later than 5:00 p.m. on the fifth day after the effective date of 219
this act and qualify as otherwise provided in Section 23-15-977 220
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ST: Fourth and Seventh Circuit Judicial
Districts; revise.
for candidates for judicial office. If the fifth day after the 221
effective date of this act falls on a weekend or a holiday, the 222
candidate shall file his or her intent to be a candidate no later 223
than 5:00 p.m. on the next business day following the fifth day 224
after the effective date of this act. 225
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of general law, any 226
candidate for the offices of circuit judge for the Seventh Circuit 227
Court District whose term of office begins January 1, 2027, shall 228
file his or her intent to be a candidate no later than 5:00 p.m. 229
on the fifth day after the effective date of this act and qualify 230
as otherwise provided in Section 23-15-977 for candidates for 231
judicial office. If the fifth day after the effective date of 232
this act falls on a weekend or a holiday, the candidate shall file 233
his or her intent to be a candidate no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 234
next business day following the fifth day after the effective date 235
of this act. 236
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 237
and after its passage. 238