Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1604: Justice court; revise certain provisions regarding suspended judges.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN A JUSTICE COURT JUDGE IS UNABLE, BY REASON OF BEING UNDER ANY SUSPENSION BY A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE WHILE UNDER INDICTMENT FOR A FELONY OFFENSE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH SUCH JUDGE SERVES SHALL APPOINT ANOTHER JUSTICE COURT JUDGE OF THE COUNTY OR AN ADJOINING COUNTY OR A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE TO ATTEND AND HOLD SAID COURT AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF SUCH JUDGE DURING SUCH SUSPENSION; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PRESENTLY SITTING JUSTICE COURT JUDGE APPOINTED TO PERFORM DUTIES OF THE SUSPENDED JUDGE SHALL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR HIS SERVICE; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-36, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY JUSTICE COURT JUDGE WHO IS UNABLE TO ATTEND AND HOLD COURT BY REASON OF BEING UNDER SUSPENSION BY A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE WHILE UNDER INDICTMENT FOR A FELONY OFFENSE, SHALL NOT RECEIVE A SALARY WHILE UNDER SUCH SUSPENSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to amend section 9-11-31, mississippi code of 1972, to provide that when a justice court judge is unable, by reason of being under any suspension by a circuit court judge while under indictment for a felony offense, the board of supervisors of the county in which such judge serves shall appoint another justice court judge of the county or an adjoining county or a municipal court judge to attend and hold said court and perform all the duties of such judge during such suspension…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN A JUSTICE COURT JUDGE IS UNABLE, BY REASON OF BEING UNDER ANY SUSPENSION BY A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE WHILE UNDER INDICTMENT FOR A FELONY OFFENSE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH SUCH JUDGE SERVES SHALL APPOINT ANOTHER JUSTICE COURT JUDGE OF THE COUNTY OR AN ADJOINING COUNTY OR A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE TO ATTEND AND HOLD SAID COURT AND PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF SUCH JUDGE DURING SUCH SUSPENSION; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PRESENTLY SITTING JUSTICE COURT JUDGE APPOINTED TO PERFORM DUTIES OF THE SUSPENDED JUDGE SHALL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR HIS SERVICE; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-36, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY JUSTICE COURT JUDGE WHO IS UNABLE TO ATTEND AND HOLD COURT BY REASON OF BEING UNDER SUSPENSION BY A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE WHILE UNDER INDICTMENT FOR A FELONY OFFENSE, SHALL NOT RECEIVE A SALARY WHILE UNDER SUCH SUSPENSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 9-11-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 9-11-31. (1) (a) When any justice court judge is unable, by reason of being under any suspension by the Commission on Judicial Performance or the Mississippi Supreme Court, suspension by a circuit court …
Sponsors
- Oliver, Karl (R, 46) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Died In Committee
- : Referred To Judiciary B
Subjects: Justice court
Common questions
- What is HB1604?
- HB1604 is a bill in the Mississippi Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Justice court; revise certain provisions regarding suspended judges.
- What does HB1604 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend section 9-11-31, mississippi code of 1972, to provide that when a justice court judge is unable, by reason of being under any suspension by a circuit court judge while under indictment for a felony offense, the board of supervisors of the county in which such judge serves shall appoint another justice court judge of the county or an adjoining county or a municipal court judge to attend and hold said court and perform all the duties of such judge during such suspension…
- What is the status of HB1604?
- Failed as of February 3, 2026. Latest action: Died In Committee (February 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1604?
- Oliver, Karl (R, 46).
- Where is the official record for HB1604?
- On the Mississippi Legislature website: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1604.xml
Source: official Mississippi record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.