Mississippi Court Records Search

Mississippi Court Records & Case Lookup

The Mississippi judiciary system is a four-tiered system that includes the courts of limited jurisdiction, general jurisdiction, the intermediate appellate court, and the court of last resort. These courts efficiently manage a considerable volume of legal cases annually, ensuring the administration of justice throughout the state.

Each court under the Mississippi judiciary system maintains records of cases filed within their jurisdiction. Per the Mississippi Public Records Act and the Supreme Court administrative order concerning access to court records, anyone in Mississippi can inspect and copy these records. However, court records may be sealed, redacted, or restricted from public access by a different statute or court order. For example, most juvenile records and information about domestic violence victims are exempt from public disclosure.

Citizens of Mississippi can access court records online through a statewide case records portal or in person at the court clerk's office where the case was filed.

State of Mississippi Court System

The Mississippi court system comprises the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Trial Courts. The state's appellate courts are the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. While the Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort, the Court of Appeals is the only intermediate appellate court in the state.

Mississippi Supreme Court comprises nine elected judges, three of which are from the state's three Supreme Court Districts.

It hears appeals from the Court of Appeals and specific trial courts such as the state's Chancery, Circuit, and County courts.

In addition, it has the judicial authority to issue extraordinary writs and over appeals involving utility rates, annexations, election contests, and statutes declared unconstitutional by a lower court.

The Supreme Court also reviews substantial constitutional questions concerning the validity of an ordinance, court rules, or administrative rules.

The Court of Appeals is composed of ten elected judges, two from each congressional district. It hears appeals assigned to it by the Supreme Court.

In Mississippi, most legal matters are resolved in the trial courts. However, under specific circumstances, some judgments can be contested at the state's Court of Appeals and may occasionally reach the Supreme Court.

Mississippi Trial Courts

The Mississippi trial court system comprises two general jurisdiction courts (Circuit and Chancery) and three limited jurisdiction courts (County, Justice, and Municipal Courts).

Circuit Courts in Mississippi

Mississippi Circuit Courts are courts of general jurisdiction that handle all civil and criminal matters not exclusively assigned to other courts in the state. In Mississippi, most Circuit Court cases are heard by juries, although some specific circumstances may permit bench trials. These courts also have the power to issue extraordinary writs.

Chancery Courts in Mississippi

There are twenty Chancery Courts in Mississippi, and they have jurisdiction over matters related to equity, divorce, alimony, probate, and guardianship. Most Chancery Court cases do not involve jury proceedings, although juries may be allowed in certain circumstances.

These courts also have concurrent with County Courts over equity matters involving less than $75,000. In counties that do not have County Courts, the Chancery Court will decide all juvenile matters.

County Courts in Mississippi

County Courts in Mississippi have original jurisdiction over matters related to the partition of property, unlawful entry and detainer, and juvenile matters.

These courts have concurrent jurisdiction with Justice Courts in civil and criminal matters. They also have concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit and Chancery Courts in all matters of law and equity up to $200,000.

Justice Courts in Mississippi also adjudicate certain non-capital felony cases transferred by the Circuit Courts.

Justice Courts in Mississippi

Mississippi Justice Courts handle all civil cases in which the amount in dispute is $3,500 or less. These courts also have concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Courts over criminal matters where punishment can not exceed a fine and sentence of one year in county jail.

Justice Courts conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases and matters committed inside the county.

Municipal Courts in Mississippi

Municipal Courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes, municipal ordinances, and city traffic violations. They conduct initial appearances in which defendants are advised of the charges filed, bond hearings, and preliminary hearings.

Youth Courts in Mississippi

Youth Courts in Mississippi handle matters involving abuse and neglect of juveniles, as well as offenses committed by juveniles.

What are the Specialty Courts in Mississippi?

Mississippi Specialty Courts are created to adjudicate matters and address crimes committed by persons in need of specialized services, especially substance abuse problems. Drug Courts are examples of Specialty Courts in Mississippi.

Mississippi Drug Courts handle cases of individuals struggling with substance abuse. They provide comprehensive supervision, conduct drug testing, offer treatment services and implement immediate sanction where necessary.

Mississippi State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

Court records are documents submitted to or generated by a court in a particular case, from the initial petition to trials and judgment. The main difference between Mississippi state and federal court records is their source. Mississippi court records are created by the several courts under the state's judicial system, federal courts are largely generated by the following federal courts operating within the state:

• The United States District Court for Northern District of Mississippi.
• The United States District Court for Southern Mississippi.

Mississippi state court records include case files and information from criminal cases, family lawsuits, divorces, contract disputes, and tort cases. In contrast, federal court records are obtained from cases related to bankruptcy, disputes between two or more states, and suits involving federal laws.

Mississippi state court records are generally considered public records available upon request. These records can be accessed from the court clerk's office in person, by mail, or online using the statewide case access portal. On the other hand, federal court records in the state are generally accessible to the public through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), a federal court records database.

What Are Public and Non-Public Records in Mississippi?

Most court records in Mississippi are open for inspection, copying, and reproduction. However, under certain circumstances, some records may be sealed, redacted, or restricted for privacy and confidentiality reasons:

How To Seal or Expunge Mississippi Court Records

In Mississippi, individuals can request to have their criminal/court records destroyed or restricted from public access. Expungement is the legal term for destroying or permanently deleting a criminal/court record in response to an individual's request. However, sealing a record occurs when the individual's request is to restrict access to a record.

To expunge a criminal record in Mississippi, it is best to first confirm whether the record is eligible for expungement. Certain conviction and non-conviction offenses are eligible for expungement in the state.

Conviction offenses eligible for expungement include:

• First-time drug offenses upon completing probation
• Alcohol-related convictions before 21 years of age
• Most misdemeanor convictions in municipal courts
• First-time DUI offense

Non-conviction offenses eligible for expungement include:

• Identity theft
• Dropped or dismissed charges
• Acquittal
• Arrest for a misdemeanor that did not go through a formal charge or prosecution within 12 months of arrest

Offenses that do not qualify for expungement in Mississippi generally include:

• Violent crimes
• Controlled substance trafficking
• First-degree arson
• Repeat DUI offense
• Possession of firearms by felon convicts
• Defaulting in registration as a sex offender
• Intimidating witness
• Abuse or maltreatment of vulnerable persons
• Embezzlement

How to Seal Court Records in Mississippi

Tso seal a court record, individuals must file a petition with the court that has jurisdiction over the case. The court typically schedules a hearing to evaluate the validity of the request. The judge then decides whether to issue a court order to seal the records, weighing the benefits of privacy against the public's right to know.

Once a record is sealed, only eligible persons such as the parties named in the record, their attorneys, or individuals with a court order may access the record.

How to Expunge Court Records in Mississippi

To expunge court records in Mississippi, eligible persons must file a petition with the court that handled their case. It's best to contact the clerk of the court for information about the administrative procedures for expungement.

In Mississippi, the general process for expunging a court record include:

• Preparing an affidavit: this is a written statement that shows that the individual is of good moral character since committing the offense. It also indicates that all sentences have been completed where applicable.
• File a petition: the individual is required to file a petition alongside other supporting documents with the court. If the record involves a felony, the individual must send a written notice to a district attorney
• Pay the applicable fees

Once the petition is received, the court will review it to determine if a court hearing is necessary. Once a petition for expungement is approved, the court clerk will delete the record from the court records permanently. The court will also issue an order to law enforcement agencies involved in the matter to delete the records from their database.

How Do You Access State of Mississippi Court Records?

Most Mississippi court records are considered public records, meaning that anyone can request access to these records. Each court in Mississippi maintains records of cases filed within their jurisdiction, which may be accessed in person or by mail. Alternatively, these records can be accessed as electronic records through the state-managed online database.

Online Access to Mississippi Court Records

The Mississippi Judicial Branch maintains an online database that provides access to electronic records of courts within the state. This online database, otherwise known as Mississippi management/electronic case filing system, allows users to view records from Circuit, County, Chancery, and Appellate Courts. This database allows court records searches by name.

Some courts within Mississippi also make their records available online through their clerk's office website.

In-Person Access to State of Mississippi Court Records

Mississippi state courts allow in-persons access to court records, especially for records that are not available online. To access court records in person, it is best to first contact the clerk of the specific court where the case was filed to learn about their process.

To view court records in person, requesters must provide information such as case number and the names of parties involved in the case to facilitate the search process. Requesters are required to submit their request either through written applications or designated form. Additionally, they may be asked to pay certain fees.

How to Request Judicial Administrative Records

To request a judicial administrative records in Mississippi, submit a written request to Administrative Office of Courts by mail to:

Requesters must state the specific judicial administrative record of interest in the request form.

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in Mississippi

Some old court records in Mississippi can be accessed at the offices of the clerks of courts in which such cases were filed or heard. If the requested record is not available at the clerks' offices, they may have been moved to the Mississippi Department of Archive and History.

Interested persons can access court records maintained by the Mississippi Department of Archive and History by submitting a record request in-person at the William F. Winter Archives & History Building. Alternatively, requests can submit their request via email or by calling the Ready Reference Help Desk at (601)576-6876.