Courts

Chancery Court - 2nd District 

Cases heard in the Chancery Court include domestic/family matters, divorce, child custody, property division, adoptions, alimony, estates of descendants, land issues (titles, contracts), emancipation (declaring a minor to be 21 for work purposes), property title confirmation, property disputes (over $50,000), insurance settlements to minors, and commitments of mentally disabled.
Image

Hon. Robert M. Logan, Jr.
2nd Chancery District Court Judge

Contact Information:
P.O. Box 58
Newton, MS 39345
(601) 627-0154 phone
(601) 900-4605 fax
2nd Chancery Court District

Court Administrator:
Stacie Shoemaker
(601) 627-0154

Court Reporter:
Ella J. Hardwick
(601) 627-0154 phone

Circuit Court - District 13

Cases Include:
  • Civil actions over $75,000
  • Misdemeanors
  • Bastardy, felonies
  • Civil action and criminal appeals from County Court

Mississippi has 22 Circuit Court Districts with 49 judges presiding therein. Districts, created by the legislature and/or the federal courts, vary considerably as to size, population and configuration. The Circuit Court tries felony criminal cases (as well as misdemeanors on appeal) and civil actions involving issues of $2,500 and above. Appeals from the Circuit Courts are to the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Juries are widely used in the Circuit Court, with a unanimous vote of 12 required for a criminal conviction, but only 9 of 12 required for a decision in a civil proceeding. The Circuit Court with all its attendant costs is generally the most expensive court in a county, but its work is too important to be compromised or sacrificed, and its work must be supported at an efficient and operable level. While it is valuable to continually study the courts and seek improvement therein, it is noted that the alternative to no courts is not acceptable in a civilized society.

Requirements for Circuit Court Judge:
  • Practicing lawyer for five years
  • 26 years of age or older
  • Citizen of state for at least five years
  • Citizen of district he/she serves (not subdistrict if divided)
156931137 2199480266849618 5073979292438691898 n

Hon. Matthew G. Sullivan
13th Circuit Court District
Place 1:  Circuit Court Judge

Contact Information:
P.O. Box 545
Raleigh, MS 39153
(601) 782-4413 phone
http://www.mscircuit13.com/

Court Administrator:
Judy Herrington
(601) 782-4413 phone

Staff Attorney:
Ray Therrell
P.O. Box 861
Raleigh, MS39153
(601) 782-9999 phone

Court Reporter:
Katelyn Berch
620 2nd Ave NW
Magee, MS 39111
(601) 382-8222
Judgesorey

Hon. Stanley A. Sorey
13th Circuit Court District
Place 2:  Circuit Court Judge

Contact Information:
P.O. Box 861
Raleigh, MS 39153
(601) 782-9999 phone
http://www.mscircuit13.com/

Court Administrator:
Darlene Therrell
(601) 782-9999 phone

Staff Attorney:
Ray Therrell
(601) 782-9999 phone

Court Reporter:
Kimberly Ulmer
P.O. Box 126
Raleigh, MS 39153
(601) 479-0930

Justice Court

Cases Include:
  • Civil actions under $2,500
  • Misdemeanors
  • Felony preliminaries
  • Marriage ceremonies
  • Highway patrol citations
  • Fish and Wildlife citations
  • Appeals from Justice (and Municipal) Court

Responsibilities of the Justice Court:
Jasper County Justice Court has jurisdiction over all actions for the recovery of debts or damages as well as personal property, up to $2,500. Clients file affidavits in Justice Court to recover property to settle debts, or to seek relief from disputes over family matters or issues involving neighbors and others.

Additionally, Justice Court handles fines resulting from citations by the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Fish and Wildlife Department officers. It holds court for citizens who protest such citations. It also holds court to settle criminal violations occurring outside the municipalities but within the county and performs marriage ceremonies. It issues process papers, subpoenas and warrants requiring an appearance in court on a specified date.
Justice Court works cooperatively with the Public Service Commissioner and received monies resulting from periodic vehicle inspection roadblocks.
The officers of the court consist of Justice Court Clerk, or Court Administrator, 12 deputy clerks, a bailiff and four judges. Process papers, subpoenas, and warrants are served by Constables who are elected officials.

A 1984 statute by the Mississippi Legislature requiring a competent number of justice court judges in each county eliminated the Justice of the Peace System and established the present Justice Court System.
Sullivan dukes

Hon. Sullivan Dukes
Justice Court Judge-District 1

Contact Information:
P.O. Box 39
Paulding, MS 39348
(601) 727-2247 phone
(601) 727-3469 fax
Image

Hon. Marvin Jones
Justice Court Judge-District 2

Contact Information:
P.O. Box 1054
Bay Springs, MS 39422
(601) 764-2065 phone
(601) 764-3402 fax

Justice Court Clerks

The board of supervisors shall appoint a clerk of the justice court system as well as deputy justice court clerks. The justice court clerks and deputy justice court clerks are empowered to file and record actions and pleadings, issue warrants, and acknowledge affidavits for the justice court. They also have the authority to collect filing fees and fines on behalf of the justice court.
 

Lashana Stevens
Justice Court Clerk-District1

Contact Information:
P.O. Box 39
Paulding, MS 39348
(601) 727-2247 phone
(601) 727-2065 fax

Hope McCullum
Justice Court Clerk-District 2

Contact Information:
P.O. Box 1054
Bay Springs, MS 39422
(601) 764-2065 phone
(601) 764-3402 fax

Prosecuting Attorney

The Prosecuting Attorney is responsible for prosecuting cases that occur within the county but outside any incorporated areas.

Represents the State in the Justice and County Courts involving the following types of cases:
  • Felony investigations and preliminary hearings
  • County court criminal cases and those appealed to the circuit court
  • Misdemeanors
In cooperation/assistance with the District Attorney:
  • Criminal and civil cases in which the state, county or any municipality within the county has interest
  • Misdemeanors, youth court proceedings and other cases not specifically granted to DA
  • Appear on behalf of the DA if designated to do so
Jo jo sm

Joseph "JoJo" Sims, Esq.
Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney

Contact Information:
P.O. Box 1252
Bay Springs, MS 39422
(601) 782-4497 phone
(601) 764-4499 fax

District Attorney

Prosecution of all Felony Cases

The District Attorney is responsible for the prosecution of all felonies committed within Jasper County .  Felonies are crimes punishable by imprisonment for a period of  more than one (1) year. He is the foremost representative of the executive branch of government in the enforcement of the criminal law in his district.

Cases on the trial docket can range from shoplifting to capital murder.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

(1) It shall be the duty of the district attorney to represent the state in all matters coming before the grand juries of the counties within his district and to appear in the circuit courts and prosecute for the state in his district all criminal prosecutions and all civil cases in which the state or any county within his district may be interested; but if two (2) or more counties are adversely interested, the district attorney shall not represent either. Any district attorney may also institute and prosecute to final judgment or decree any case in the name of the state against any person or corporation for any violation of the constitution or the laws of this state, in order to enforce any penalties, fines or forfeitures imposed by law in any court of his district having jurisdiction, with like effect as if the suit was instituted by the attorney general.

(2) The district attorney may transfer any case handled by him to a county prosecuting attorney when charges in such case no longer constitute a felony.

(3) The validity of any judgment or sentence shall not be affected by the division of jurisdiction under this section, and no judgment or sentence may be reversed or modified upon the basis that the case was not processed according to this section.

(4) A county prosecuting attorney or municipal prosecuting attorney may be designated by the district attorney to appear on behalf of the district attorney pursuant to an agreement relating to appearances in certain courts or proceedings in the county of the county prosecuting attorney or in the municipality of the municipal prosecuting attorney. Such agreement shall be filed with the circuit court clerk of any county where such agreement shall be operative. Such agreement shall be binding upon the district attorney and county prosecuting attorney or municipal prosecuting attorney until dissolved by either of them in writing upon five (5) days’ notice.

(5) Where any statute of this state confers a jurisdiction, responsibility, duty, privilege or power upon a county attorney or county prosecuting attorney, either solely, jointly or alternatively with a district attorney, such county prosecuting attorney shall be responsible for the prosecution, handling, appearance, disposition or other duty conferred by such statute. Any such provision shall not be construed to bestow such responsibility, jurisdiction or power upon the district attorney where there is no elected county prosecuting attorney, and any such matter shall be handled pursuant to Section 19-3-49, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(6) The district attorney or his designated assistant, or the county prosecuting attorney or his designated assistant, shall assist the attorney general in appeals from his district to the Mississippi Supreme Court and in other post judgment proceedings, and shall appear for oral argument before the supreme court when directed by the supreme court.

(7) The several district attorneys shall submit reports of revenues and expenditures and shall submit budget requests as required for state general fund agencies. For purposes of budget control, the several offices of district attorney shall be considered general fund agencies and the budget and accounts of the several offices, including salaries, travel expenses, office expenses and any other expenditures or revenues, shall be consolidated for all districts as far as such consolidation is practical.  All revenue or funds allocated or expended by a district attorney, whether such funds are appropriated from state funds, or whether such funds are received from county funds, grants or otherwise, shall be reported to the legislative budget office.
Img 8349

Chris D. Hennis, District Attorney
13th Circuit Court District

Jasper-Smith-Simpson-Covington Counties

Contact Information:
100 Court Ave, Suite 4
Mendenhall, MS 39114
(601) 847-1342 phone
(601) 847-3428 fax