Supreme Court of Mississippi Decisions

The Supreme Court of Mississippi reviews decisions in the Mississippi Court of Appeals, as well as decisions in the chancery, circuit, and county courts. It holds exclusive jurisdiction over cases of first impression and cases that implicate issues of broad public interest. In addition, the Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over cases in certain areas, including capital punishment, challenges to an election or the constitutionality of a law, questions certified by a federal court to the Supreme Court, and disciplinary proceedings in the legal profession.

The qualifications for serving on the Supreme Court of Mississippi are defined by Article VI, Section 150 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890. A candidate must be at least 30 years old, a practicing attorney, and a citizen of Mississippi for at least five years. The nine justices on the Court are elected from three judicial districts in non-partisan elections. Each justice serves an eight-year term. Mississippi ensures that elections are staggered so that not all nine seats are open at the same time. Among the nine justices, there is one Chief Justice, two Presiding Justices, and six Associate Justices. Seniority on the Court determines how the justices are distributed among those roles.

When a seat becomes open, the Governor of Mississippi can appoint a new justice to fill the seat. However, their tenure lasts only for the rest of the current term. The interim justice must run for the seat in the next election if they want to remain on the Court. A justice may be removed if two-thirds of the Mississippi House of Representatives votes to impeach them, and two-thirds of the Mississippi Senate votes to remove them. The Governor also may remove a justice upon the joint address of two-thirds of both houses of the legislature. Finally, a justice may be removed after the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance recommends their removal. This involves a two-thirds vote by secret ballot of a tribunal of seven circuit or chancery judges, chosen by lot.