Q: Adams County is one of only 19 counties in Mississippi that has a County Court. Why is the court necessary here?

Walt Brown: County Courts are present in most of the larger, more populated counties in Mississippi. The primary purpose of County Court is to alleviate some of the caseload that would normally be filed in Circuit Court in that county. County Court also hears eminent domain cases, misdemeanor appeals from Municipal and Justice Court, and Youth Court matters. In 2012, 363 cases were filed in County Court. Last year, the number was 266. That’s 629 cases filed in County Court over the last two years. That does not include Youth Court cases. If we didn’t have a County Court, Circuit Court could not effectively dispose of all the cases on it’s docket. Chancery Judges or appointed referees (with additional costs) would have to take on the Youth Court matters. That case load and in addition to the other three counties that our Chancery and Circuit Court district cover would be a huge burden on the Court and make it impossible for those judges to dispose of these cases on a timely basis. That is why it is  necessary that we have a County Court in Adams County.

Lamar Bullen: It is necessary to provide access for smaller claims and help with the burden on Circuit Court and was established to be the avenue to appeal from City Court to County Court. The Court allows faster access to a court date and gives the people of Adams County an avenue to justice.  Our population in Adams County also necessitates it.

Patricia Dunmore: County Court was created by the MS State Legislature. I will not question the wisdom of the MS State Legislature in creating the County Court in Adams County. The County Court has concurrent jurisdiction with both Chancery and Circuit Court. If the docket is overloaded in either of these courts, County Court presents an alternative where cases can be heard. County Court also creates a system of appeals for City and Justice Court cases.

Brandi Lewis: The legislature allowed for County Courts in these nineteen (19) counties based on the population of the respective counties.  This was to aid the larger counties in more effectively handling their Court cases.  Due to the case load, both civil and criminal, in Adams County, I believe a County Court is necessary in order to assist the citizens of Adams County in having their cases heard and adjudicated in a timely manner.

Scott Pintard: County Court is necessary in Adams County due to the case load on the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court would become overburdened based on the appeals from Municipal and Justice Court alone. If you added the cases of original jurisdiction the County Court hears and trys, our Court system would become bogged down and the docket brought to a near standstill. Without the County Court, it would add years to the disposition of a case. For instance, a typical civil case may take 18 to 24 months from the date of filing to resolution on our current docket. If County Court did not exist, that average time frame would most likely increase to 36 months to 48 months almost instantly and over time the delays would get even longer.

Scott Slover: I believe the County Court can be more active in regards to holding court and aiding in the overdue fines and unpaid bills to the County.  In addition, I believe the majority of County Court can be held in the Juvenile Justice Center.  This frees up space in the Courthouse allowing for Justice Court to be held more comfortably in what is now the County Courtroom.  The current Justice Court could be upgraded to become an ancillary courtroom available to Justice, Circuit and Chancery.