Jackson Municipal Court

A trading post operated by a French-Canadian trader was the site where the City of Jackson was founded in 1821. The trading post was located on a bluff on the west bank of the Pearl River and was originally called LeFleur’s Bluff for the trader. The State Legislature wanted the government seat moved from the Natchez area, to a more central location, so commissioned three men to find the perfect place for the state’s capital. When William Lattimore, James Patton and Thomas Hinds reached LeFleur’s Bluff, they knew they had found the ideal place, reporting the location was close to the Natchez Trace, had abundant timber, navigable waters and beautiful surroundings.

LeFleur’s Bluff became the permanent government seat for the state of Mississippi, named in honor of Major General Andrew Jackson, who would later become the seventh President of the United States. Jackson is the co-seat (with Raymond) of Hinds County. In 1822, the city of Jackson was laid out via a checkerboard plan from Thomas Jefferson which designated alternate squares as parks. The first railroad in Jackson arrived by l1840. The town of Jackson was ravaged and burned three times during the Civil War, yet somehow the City Hall, built in 1846 escaped harm, perhaps because the building was being used as a hospital.

At the turn of the century, some 8,000 people lived in Jackson, however the city would soon see one of the most dynamic growth in the Sunbelt, with approximately 185,000 people now residing in Jackson. Jackson is now a vibrant, beautiful city, hosting the world class USA International Ballet Competition at the Thalia Mara Hall. The city-center arts complex in the city of Jackson also includes the nations 10th largest Planetarium. Nightlife and fine dining make Jackson sparkle; the city is now a mix of ethnic and cultural groups which provide the city with international cuisine.

Jackson is also a major distribution and transportation center, thanks in part to the discovery of nearby natural gas fields in the 1930’s. Poultry processing and the manufacturer of automotive parts are important components of the Jackson economy, and a flood-control project on the Pearl River provided benefits encompassing agriculture, industry and recreation. The University of Mississippi Medical Center is in Jackson as are Millsaps College, Belhaven College and Jackson State University. Visitors will delight in the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, as well as annual events such as the Crossroads Film Festival, the Dixie National Western Festival, Rodeo and Livestock Show and the Mississippi State Fair.

Jackson Municipal Court

The Jackson Municipal Court is located at 327 East Pascagoula Street in Jackson, Mississippi. Initial appearances for misdemeanor cases for those in jail are at 9:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. Initial appearances for felony cases for those in jail are at 10:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. Preliminary hearings for felony cases are at 11:15 a.m., Monday through Friday. Contempt of Court hearings are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m., misdemeanor arraignments are at 9:00 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, misdemeanor trials at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and traffic court offenses are heard at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday and 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Violations of city and state laws per citation summons issued by city inspectors are heard in Environmental Court on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. Mediation hearings for citizen dispute resolution are held on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., and drug court is on the 1st and third Tuesdays of each month at 4:00 p.m. The Jackson Municipal Court Judges include: Judge Henry Clay, III (Senior Judge), Judge Taurean Buchanan, Judge June Hardwick, Judge Jeffrey P. Reynolds, Judge Ali Shamsiddeen, and Judge William Walker, Jr.

Hinds County Courts

Justice Judges Pearlie Brown Owens, Jimmy Morton, Frank Sutton, Tabitha Britton-Porter and Don Palmer preside over the Hinds County Justice Court which hears misdemeanor criminal charges and civil actions which do not exceed $3,500. The Justice Court is located at 407 East Pascagoula Street in Jackson. The Jackson Chancery Courts deal with commitments of the mentally disabled, domestic and family matters such as adoption, divorce, child custody, property divisions and spousal support, estate division, equity appeals from County Court and Land issues.

The Chancery Court is located at 316 South President Street in Jackson. Because of the high volume of cases in Hinds County, the Judges have appointed four Masters to hear some of the cases to lighten to backlogged docket, since an average of 250 new cases are filed each month. Chancery Court Judges are Judge Dewayne Thomas for Subdistrict 1, Judge Tiffany Grove for Subdistrict 2, Judge Denise Sweet Owens for Subdistrict 3, and Judge Crystal Wise Martin for Subdistrict 4.

Hinds County Justice Court hears cases at 407 East Pascagoula Street in Jackson, hearing civil actions which do not exceed $3,500 and misdemeanor criminal charges. The Hinds County Justice Court Judges are Pearlie Brown Owens, Jimmy Morton, Frank Sutton, Tabitha Britton-Porter and Don Palmer. The Hinds County Circuit Court presides over felony criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits in which damages exceed $250,000.

Felony and Misdemeanor Cases in Jackson, Mississippi

Whether you are charged with a felony or a misdemeanor offense in Jackson, you must take the charges very seriously. A felony conviction results in larger fines, the possibility of a prison sentence and the loss of certain rights (the right to own a gun, obtain a professional license, obtain a government student loan, and the right to vote). A misdemeanor conviction can result in jail time up to one year and fines and a maximum fine of $1,000. Felony crimes include murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, burglary, drug possession (except for small amounts of marijuana), drug trafficking, aggravated assault and some DUI offenses.

Crimes against others are usually felony offenses with the exception of simple assault, which is a misdemeanor. Other misdemeanor crimes include first-time DUI, resisting arrest, simple battery, disturbing the peace, public intoxication, solicitation, underage drinking and shoplifting. If you are charged with a criminal offense—misdemeanor or felony—it is important that you consult a knowledgeable Mississippi criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible to ensure your rights are protected.

Contact Our Jackson, Mississippi Criminal Defense Lawyers

If you or someone you love has been arrested and charged with a crime in Jackson or anywhere in the State of Mississippi, the best thing you can do is to contact an experienced Jackson criminal defense attorney who will protect your rights throughout the criminal process.

At Coxwell & Associates, PLLC, our attorneys believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. That’s why we work tirelessly to defend our Jackson, Mississippi clients. Contact Coxwell & Associates today at (601) 265-7766.