HB716 • 2026

Judiciary; extend repealer on statute requiring appointment of 4 temporary special circuit judges in the 7th Circuit Court District.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-7-26, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXTEND THE DATE OF THE REPEALER ON THE STATUTE REQUIRING THE APPOINTMENT OF FOUR TEMPORARY SPECIAL CIRCUIT JUDGES IN THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE TERMS OF THE SPECIAL CIRCUIT JUDGES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on whether the Chief Justice can reappoint existing temporary judges, so this claim was removed.

Extend Term for Special Judges

This bill extends the term of four temporary special circuit judges appointed to the Seventh Circuit Court District in Mississippi.

What This Bill Does

Extends the date when a law requiring the appointment of four temporary special circuit judges will end from December 31, 2029, to an unspecified later date.
Changes the expiration date for these special judges' terms to match the new repealer date.

Who It Names or Affects

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Four temporary special circuit judges in the Seventh Circuit Court District

Terms To Know

Temporary Special Circuit Judges: Judges appointed to help with court cases for a limited time.
Repealer Date: The date when a law or part of a law will no longer be in effect.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
The exact new repealer date is not specified in the bill text.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-15 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/15 (H) Referred To Judiciary A

Official Summary Text

Judiciary; extend repealer on statute requiring appointment of 4 temporary special circuit judges in the 7th Circuit Court District.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 716 *HR26/R420* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R420
PAGE 1 (RKM\KW)

To: Judiciary A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Shanks

HOUSE BILL NO. 716

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-7-26, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
EXTEND THE DATE OF THE REPEALER ON THE STATUTE REQUIRING THE 2
APPOINTMENT OF FOUR TEMPORARY SPECIAL CIRCUIT JUDGES IN THE 3
SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT; TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION DATE OF 4
THE TERMS OF THE SPECIAL CIRCUIT JUDGES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 9-7-26, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
9-7-26. (1) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall 9
appoint four (4) temporary special circuit judges for the Seventh 10
Circuit Court District. No limitation whatsoever shall be placed 11
upon the powers and duties of the judges other than those provided 12
by the Constitution and laws of this state. The term of the 13
temporary special circuit judges shall expire on December 14
31, * * * 2029. 15
(2) The judges shall be appointed no later than fifteen (15) 16
days after July 1, 2023, according to applicable state laws. The 17
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may elect to reappoint circuit 18
H. B. No. 716 *HR26/R420* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R420
PAGE 2 (RKM\KW)
ST: Judiciary; extend repealer on statute
requiring appointment of 4 temporary special
circuit judges in the 7th Circuit Court
District.
judges that are serving on a temporary basis as of July 1, 2023, 19
in the Seventh Circuit Court District. 20
(3) (a) Each temporary special circuit judge shall receive 21
an office operating allowance to be used for the purposes 22
described and in amounts equal to those authorized in Section 23
9-1-36. 24
(b) The Administrative Office of Courts shall establish 25
personnel policies to compensate the support staff for each 26
temporary special circuit judge. 27
(4) This section shall stand repealed on December 31, * * * 28
2029. 29
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 30
and after July 1, 2026. 31