Mississippi Senate Bill SB2265

Mississippi 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/24
• Refer: 2/6/24
• Failed: 3/5/24

Caption

Chancery court; provide additional chancellor for 15th Chancery Court District.

Impact

The introduction of a second chancellor is anticipated to alleviate the judicial workload typically faced by the current chancellor within the district. This change is deemed necessary as the demand for judicial services grows. The bill articulates a special election scheduled for November 2024, where candidates must declare their intent to run by June 1, 2024. Following this election, the initial term for the new chancellorship will commence on January 1, 2025, for a three-year duration, which aligns with provisions for chancellorship terms in Mississippi.

Summary

Senate Bill 2265 proposes an amendment to Section 9-5-47 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, which establishes an additional chancellor for the Fifteenth Chancery Court District, encompassing Copiah and Lincoln Counties. This amendment seeks to enhance the chancellorship structure by creating a new chancellorship alongside the existing one, thereby ensuring more effective judicial administration within the district. The bill outlines specific qualifications for candidates wishing to fill the new position, thereby standardizing the candidate selection process.

Contention

While there have not been indicated points of contention from the provided materials, the potential introduction of an additional judicial position may spark debate regarding resource allocation and the state budget for the judiciary. Stakeholders may raise concerns about whether this additional role will effectively address judicial delays or simply add more bureaucracy without a necessary increase in judicial efficiency.