2012 Mississippi Code
Title 21 - Municipalities
Chapter 23 - Municipal Courts
§ 21-23-5. When mayor may serve as municipal judge; municipal judges training course

In any municipality having a population of less than ten thousand (10,000) according to the latest available federal census, it shall be discretionary with the governing authorities of the municipality as to whether or not a municipal judge or a prosecuting attorney, or both, shall be appointed. If the authorities of any municipality having a population of less than twenty thousand (20,000) according to the latest available federal census appoint a municipal judge, he may be a licensed attorney of such county, a licensed attorney of a county adjacent to such county or a justice court judge of such county. In all municipalities where a municipal judge is not appointed, the mayor, or mayor pro tempore, shall be the municipal judge, but he shall not receive additional compensation from the municipality for such service.

The Mississippi Judicial College of the University of Mississippi Law Center shall conduct, if funds are available, courses of training and education for mayors and mayors pro tempore who serve as municipal judges. This course of training shall be known as the Municipal Judges Training Course and it shall consist of at least twelve (12) hours of training. The content of the course of training, when and where it is to be conducted, shall be determined by the said Judicial College consistent with the need. A certificate of completion shall be furnished those mayors who complete the full course. No mayor elected or reelected for a term of office after July 1, 1979, except one who has been admitted to practice law in this state, shall serve as municipal judge unless he has completed the course of training prescribed herein. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply if funds are unavailable for such training courses.