Exactly when the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) inferior court will open its doors remains to be determined.
“There’s not a specific time frame but sooner rather than later is what we were all shooting for,” said Rep. Shanda Yates, an Independent who represents House District 64.
The court was scheduled to open in January but hit a snag.
Lawsuits questioning the constitutionality of part of the controversial House Bill 1020, which the Legislature passed in 2023, provided for the creation of an inferior court and the appointment of temporary circuit court judges were filed.
The Mississippi Supreme Court established the constitutionality of the inferior court system but determined the mandate to appoint unelected circuit court judges was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court ruled the chief justice has the authority to appoint special judges in needed circumstances, not just in Jackson but anywhere in the state.
The CCID court hit another snag after Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed Senate Bill 2180, passed in the 2024 session, that contained language that would allow the chief justice to hire two full-time judges and one-part time judge. The bill would have given Capitol Police legal authority to enforce city ordinances but did not require them to do so. Reeves said he vetoed it because he was concerned that Capitol Police officers could not assist in deporting undocumented workers in the state.
A separate appropriations bill passed in the 2024 session provides funding for hiring the judges. Reeves did not veto that bill.
“The money is there, but the bill explaining how that money was to be used was vetoed,” Yates said. “We’re at a wait-and-see as to whether the court is going to be able to use the money to hire those judges.”
At a minimum, the chief justice would be able to hire one full-time judged based on House Bill 1020, she said. “Some say the original language is vague enough that he could hire two full-time and one part-time judge.”
The chief justice in conjunction with the Administrative Office of Courts is responsible for establishing the working components of a new court, finding office space, hiring judges, a court administrator and staff.
Beverly Kraft, public information officer for the Administrative Office of Courts, said the chief justice has not made an appointment to the CCID court and that she did not have a timeline for when that would be done.
House Bill 1020 resulted in several things, including the expansion of the CCID, where Capitol Police has jurisdiction, north to Northside Drive effective July 1.
House Bill 1487, which the Legislature passed this year, will expand the CCID’s boundaries north to Westbrook Road, beginning July 1, 2025. That expansion will take in the area that include Kroger on I-55 as well as Jackson Academy and Parham Bridges Park on Ridgewood Road.
“I think we’ve all seen an improvement in having Capitol Police patrolling within the CCID,” Yates said. “My constituents have asked to have Capitol Police in as many places as possible.”
The Legislature approved during the 2024 session funding for an additional 37 Capitol Police officers as well as salary increases and vehicle allowances, she said.
“The 37 additional officers are necessary for the boundary increase going into effect this July,” she said.
