Bill Text: MS HB1752 | 2026 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Judges' salaries; increase and delete provision setting at level recommended by State Personnel Board.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2026-04-09 - Approved by Governor [HB1752 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2026-HB1752-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Appropriations A; Judiciary B
By: Representatives Read, Cockerham
House Bill 1752
(As Sent to Governor)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 25-3-35 AND 9-9-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL SALARIES OF THE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT, THE JUDGES OF THE COURT OF APPEALS AND THE CHANCERY AND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2027; TO SET THE AMOUNT OF THE SALARY SUPPLEMENT FOR THE COUNTY COURT JUDGES THAT IS PAID FROM THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM OPERATION FUND; TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS THAT SET THE ANNUAL SALARIES OF THE STATE COURT JUDGES AND COUNTY COURT JUDGES AT THE LEVEL OF COMPENSATION RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 25-3-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-3-35. (1) The annual salaries of the following judges are fixed as follows:
* * *
From and after January 1,
2023 * * *, through
December 31, 2026:
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court............... $181,491.00
Presiding Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... 176,737.00
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... 173,800.00
From and after January 1, 2027:
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court............... $194,171.00
Presiding Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... $190,614.00
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.... $187,625.00
There are imposed upon the
Supreme Court justices the extra duties of taking all necessary action to
promote judicial education in schools, intervention courts, electronic filing
and case management systems as developed by the Administrative Office of
Courts, or such other additional duties as may be assigned by the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court. For such extra services each justice, from and after
January 1, * * *
2027, shall receive a sum sufficient to aggregate, per annum, the
salaries set forth in this subsection (1).
The fixed salaries in this subsection (1) shall be paid from the State General Fund and from the Judicial System Operation Fund created under Section 9-21-45. No less than: One Hundred Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Ninety Dollars ($115,390.00) of the Chief Justice's salary in this subsection (1), One Hundred Thirteen Thousand One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($113,190.00) of the salary of a presiding justice in this subsection (1), and One Hundred Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Thirty Dollars ($112,530.00) of the salary of an associate justice in this subsection (1) shall be paid from general fund monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate annually from the Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase the salary of the Chief Justice, a presiding justice and an associate justice to the levels set forth in this subsection (1).
The fixed salaries as
specified in this subsection (1) shall be the exclusive and total compensation
which can be reported to the Public Employees' Retirement System for retirement
purposes * * *.
(2) The annual salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeals of Mississippi are fixed as follows:
* * *
From and after January 1,
2023 * * *, through
December 31, 2026:
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.............. $169,349.00
Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each... 168,467.00
From and after January 1, 2027:
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.............. $182,624.00
Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each... $179,871.00
From and after January 1, * * * 2027, each judge shall receive a
sum sufficient to aggregate, per annum, the salaries set forth in this
subsection (2).
The fixed salaries in this subsection (2) shall be paid from the State General Fund and from the Judicial System Operation Fund created under Section 9-21-45. No less than One Hundred Eight Thousand One Hundred Thirty Dollars ($108,130.00) of the Chief Judge's salary in this subsection (2) shall be paid from general fund monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate annually from the Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase the Chief Judge's salary to the level set forth in this subsection (2). No less than One Hundred Five Thousand Fifty Dollars ($105,050.00) of the salary of an associate judge in this subsection (2) shall be paid from general fund monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate annually from the Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase the salary of an associate judge to the level set forth in this subsection (2).
The fixed salaries as
specified in this subsection (2) shall be the exclusive and total compensation
which can be reported to the Public Employees' Retirement System for retirement
purposes * * *.
(3) The annual salaries of the chancery and circuit court judges are fixed as follows:
* * *
From and after January 1,
2023 * * *,through
December 31, 2026:
Chancery Judges, each........................... $158,000.00
Circuit Judges, each............................ 158,000.00
From and after January 1, 2027:
Chancery Judges, each........................... $171,063.00
Circuit Judges, each............................ $171,063.00
In addition to their present
official duties, the circuit and chancery judges shall take necessary action to
promote judicial education in schools, intervention courts, electronic filing
and case management systems as developed by the Administrative Office of
Courts, or such other additional duties as may be assigned by the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court. For such extra services each judge, from and after
January 1, * * *
2027, shall receive a sum sufficient to aggregate, per annum, the
salaries set forth in this subsection (3).
The fixed salaries in this subsection (3) shall be paid from the State General Fund and from the Judicial System Operation Fund created under Section 9-21-45. No less than One Hundred Four Thousand One Hundred Seventy Dollars ($104,170.00) of the salary of a chancery or circuit judge in this subsection (3) shall be paid from general fund monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate annually from the Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase the salary of a chancery or circuit judge to the levels set forth in this subsection (3).
* * *
( * * *4) The Supreme Court shall prepare a
payroll for chancery judges and circuit judges and submit such payroll to the
Department of Finance and Administration.
( * * *5) The annual salary of the full-time
district attorneys shall be:
* * *
From and after January 1,
2026 * * *, through
December 31, 2027:
One Hundred Fifty Thousand One Hundred Dollars ($150,100.00).
From and after January 1, 2028:
Ninety-five percent (95%) of the salary authorized by law for circuit and chancery court judges of this state.
( * * *6) The annual salary of the full-time
legal assistants shall be not less than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00)
nor more than eighty percent (80%) of the salary of the district attorney for
legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for five (5) years or
less; eighty-five percent (85%) of the salary of the district attorney for
legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for at least five (5)
years but less than fifteen (15) years; and ninety percent (90%) of the salary
of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice
law for at least fifteen (15) years or more.
SECTION 2. Section 9-9-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
9-9-11. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2), (3) and (4), the county court judge shall receive an annual salary payable monthly out of the county treasury in an amount not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) less than the salary which is now or shall hereafter be provided for circuit and chancery judges of this state, in the discretion of the board of supervisors of said county; provided, however, that the salary of such judge shall not be reduced during his term of office. Provided further, that the office of county court judge in any county receiving an annual salary of Thirty-six Thousand Dollars ($36,000.00) or more shall be a full-time position, and the holder thereof shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law.
(2) If a county court is established by agreement between two (2) or more counties as provided in Section 9-9-3, the county judge of the court so established shall be paid a salary equal to one and one-half (1-1/2) times that salary that he would be paid if he were the judge of the smallest of such two (2) or more counties, such salary to be paid in monthly installments as provided by law; provided that such salary shall not exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) less than the salary of the circuit and chancery judges of this state.
(3) The county court judge shall receive an annual salary payable monthly out of the county treasury as follows:
(a) In any county having a population of seventy thousand (70,000) or more according to the 1980 federal census, the county judge shall receive an annual salary of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) less than that paid to a circuit court judge. The office of county judge shall be a full-time position, and the holder thereof shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law.
(b) In any county having a population of sixty thousand (60,000) or more but less than seventy thousand (70,000) according to the 1980 federal census, the county judge shall receive an annual salary of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00). The office of county judge shall be a full-time position, and the holder thereof shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law. The county judge shall not be eligible for any additional salary except as may be authorized in subsection (4).
(c) In any county having a population of twenty-seven thousand (27,000) or more but less than sixty thousand (60,000) according to the 1980 federal census, the county judge shall receive an annual salary of not less than Twelve Thousand Dollars ($12,000.00) but not more than Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00), in the discretion of the board of supervisors of said county. The county judge shall not be eligible for any additional salary except as may be authorized in subsection (4). In the event that the board of supervisors of said county elects to pay such county judge an annual salary of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) or more, the office of county judge shall be a full-time position, and the holder thereof shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law.
(d) In any county having a population of less than twenty-seven thousand (27,000) according to the 1980 federal census, the county judge shall receive an annual salary of not less than Four Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($4,200.00) and not more than Eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($8,500.00), in the discretion of the board of supervisors of said county. The county judge shall not be eligible for any additional salary except as may be authorized in subsection (4).
(4) The county judge of any county described in this subsection shall be paid the compensation, and he shall be subject to any restrictions set forth in the following paragraphs:
(a) The county judge of any such Class 1 county with a population according to the latest federal decennial census of forty-five thousand (45,000) or more and lying wholly within a levee district and having two (2) judicial districts shall, in the discretion of the board of supervisors of such county, receive an annual salary not exceeding Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00), or a sum which is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) less than the salary which is now or shall hereafter be provided for circuit and chancery judges of the state, whichever is greater.
(b) The county judge of any Class 1 county having an area in excess of nine hundred twenty-five (925) square miles shall receive an annual salary of not less than Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) but, in the discretion of the board of supervisors of such county, such salary may be not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) less than the annual salary of a circuit judge, payable monthly out of the county treasury, and the county judge shall not practice law.
(c) The office of county judge in any such Class 1 county with a population according to the 1970 federal decennial census of greater than thirty-nine thousand (39,000), and where U.S. Highway 61 and Mississippi Highway 6 intersect, shall receive an annual salary to be paid in monthly installments of not less than an amount equal to ninety percent (90%) of the annual salary which is now or shall hereafter be provided for circuit and chancery judges of the state, as follows: The salary of the county judge shall be increased by ten percent (10%) annually above the base salary of the preceding year until such time as the judge's salary is equal to the amount that is provided by this subsection. The office of county judge shall be a full-time position and the holder thereof shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law.
(d) In any Class 1 county bordering on the Mississippi River and which has situated therein a national military park and national military cemetery, the office of county judge shall be a full-time position and the holder thereof shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law. The salary for the county judge in said county shall be fixed at a sum which is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) less than the salary which is now or shall hereafter be provided for circuit and chancery judges of this state.
(e) The county judge in any county having a population of at least forty-two thousand one hundred eleven (42,111), according to the 1970 census, and where U.S. Highway 49E and U.S. Highway 82 intersect, shall receive an annual salary to be paid in monthly installments of not less than Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) but not more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) less than the annual salary of the circuit judge, in the discretion of the board of supervisors of said county.
(f) The county judge in any Class 1 county bordering on the Mississippi River and having an area of less than four hundred fifty (450) square miles wherein U.S. Highways 84 and 61 intersect shall receive an annual salary of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) less than the annual salary of a circuit judge, and such county judge shall not practice law in any manner. The county judge in such county shall not be eligible to receive any additional salary authorized by this section or from any other source other than that set out and authorized by this paragraph.
(g) The county judge of any Class 1 county bordering on the Mississippi River on the west and the State of Tennessee on the north, and traversed north to south by Interstate Highway 55, shall receive an annual salary of ninety percent (90%) of the salary which is now or shall hereafter be provided for chancery and circuit judges of this state, but in any event not less than Sixty Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($60,200.00).
(h) The county judge of any Class 1 county with a population of greater than sixty-nine thousand (69,000) according to the 1980 federal decennial census, and wherein U.S. Highway 80 and Mississippi Highway 43 intersect, shall receive an annual salary in an amount not greater than the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) less than the salary which is now or shall hereafter be provided for circuit and chancery judges of this state, in the discretion of the board of supervisors of said county.
(i) The county judge of any county having a population in excess of sixty-six thousand (66,000) according to the 1980 federal decennial census, wherein is located a state-supported university and in which U.S. Highways 49 and 11 intersect, shall receive an annual salary of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) less than that paid to a circuit court judge. The office of such county judge shall be a full-time position, and the holder thereof shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law.
(j) The county judge of any county having two (2) judicial districts, having a population in excess of sixty-one thousand nine hundred (61,900) according to the 1980 federal decennial census, in which U.S. Interstate Highway 59 intersects with U.S. Highway 84, shall receive an annual salary of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) less than the salary which is now or hereafter authorized to be paid circuit and chancery court judges of this state. The office of such county judge shall be a full-time position, and the holder thereof shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law.
(k) The office of county judge of any Class I county wherein U.S. Highway 51 and U.S. Highway 98 intersect shall be a full-time position and the holder thereof shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law. The annual salary for the office of county judge in said county may be fixed, in the discretion of the board of supervisors of said county, at a sum not to exceed Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) less than the salary which is now or shall hereafter be provided for circuit and chancery judges of this state.
(l) The county judge of any county having a population of more than forty-one thousand six hundred (41,600) but less than forty-one thousand six hundred fifty (41,650) according to the 1980 federal census, and wherein U.S. Highway 49 intersects with Mississippi Highway 22, shall receive an annual salary payable monthly out of the county treasury of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) less than the salary provided now or hereafter for circuit and chancery judges of this state.
(m) The county judge of any county having a population of more than fifty-seven thousand (57,000) but less than fifty-seven thousand one hundred (57,100) according to the 1980 federal census, wherein U.S. Highway 45 intersects with Mississippi Highway 6, shall receive an annual salary in an amount established by the board of supervisors, but in no event to exceed the salary provided now or hereafter for circuit and chancery judges of this state.
(n) The county judge of any county having a population of more than fifty-seven thousand three hundred (57,300) according to the 1980 federal decennial census, wherein is located a state-supported university and wherein U.S. Highways 82 and 45 intersect, shall receive an annual salary in an amount established by the board of supervisors, but in no event to exceed the salary provided now or hereafter for circuit and chancery judges of this state.
(5) The salary of a county court judge or justice court judge shall not be reduced during his term of office as a result of a population decrease based upon the 1990 federal decennial census.
(6) The salary of a sheriff shall not be reduced during his term of office as a result of a population decrease based upon the 1990 federal decennial census.
(7) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the board of supervisors of any county, in its discretion, may pay its county court judge an annual salary of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) less than that paid to a circuit court judge. The office of county judge shall be a full-time position, and the holder thereof shall not otherwise engage in the practice of law.
(8) (a) There shall be
transferred to the county for each county court judge, payment to be made in
monthly installments from the Judicial System Operation Fund created under
Section 9-21-45, an annual salary supplement of * * * Fifty-one Thousand Eight-hundred Thirty
Dollars ($51,830.00), plus any applicable fringe benefits resulting from this
amount. The counties shall submit reimbursement requests monthly to the
Administrative Office of Courts for payment of the monthly installments of the
annual salary supplement provided under this subsection.
* * *
( * * *b) The total annual salary paid to the
county court judge out of the county treasury and out of the Judicial System
Operation Fund created under Section 9-21-45 shall not exceed the salary
limitation set forth in subsection (7) of this section.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.
