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Senate bill could change Justice Court system
Published Sunday, March 16, 2008
NATCHEZ — Justice Court judges across the state may soon see some changes in their court system. Under the recently passed Senate Bill 2571, justice court judges in Adams County will receive the same pay as county supervisors, which will mean an increase of about $6,000.
“Currently, there are several different pay scales for judges throughout the state, with salaries differing by as much as $43,000 from small counties to large ones,” Adams County Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess said. “This bill compresses those pay scales down to match what supervisors make in each county.”
Vess said he believes the increase in pay will help Adams County attract a higher-quality judge.
With any pay increase for public officials, questions arise over the source of the additional funds. Vess said Justice Court is a completely self-funded entity and one of the few in the state that makes money for the county. He said there were would be enough funds in Adams County for the raises.
The bill, co-authored by Sen. Bob Dearing, D-Natchez, also raises the court’s civil jurisdiction from $2,500 to $3,500 and requires judges to pass a competency exam before taking the bench.
“We welcome the increase in training and we will eventually raise the requirements for being a judge,” Vess said. “Now, someone just needs a high school diploma, but hopefully they will be required to have a two-year degree in the future.”
In its original form, the bill would have allowed judges to run for office without party affiliation — something Vess said he has been pushing for a long time. But that portion of the bill was changed before being passed. Justice Court judges will remain the only judges in the state to run as Republican or Democrat.
“Judges shouldn’t be Republican or Democrat,” Vess said. “All people should be able to vote for judges. We’ve been fighting this for a long time. The rest of the judiciary does it this way, and we felt we should be the same.”
“I’m not sure why that portion didn’t make it,” Dearing said. “The judges sure wanted it though.”
The bill was drafted on the recommendations of a governor’s task force formed to review the state’s Justice Court system. The task force was made up of Supreme Court justices and judges from around the state.
“We feel this bill is a good thing for Justice Court,” Dearing said.
Comments
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on March 16, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this the same Vess you promised to collect the $1,000,000 outstanding? Just asking.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 16, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is the status of that situation anyone?
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 6:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
that was just a trick to get votes
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If most judges are making $60,000 a year with just a hs diploma....Heck I know a few better people than what we have for the job!!!! And a lot MORE HONEST!!! Half go by gut instint not the eveidence that is presented and what is the real truth. Then that makes it where anybody can become a judge.......can't wait until NEXT election. Most have Already started working on the 2 year degree just incase they decide to change the standards. LOL
Posted by msblackstallion (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 8:30 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
msblackstallion , you must go to a to one of those churches like Obama . I don't recall this being a racial issue .
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The court will not enforce it's rulings on defendants. There is no method of mandating payments. There is no justice in justice court other than the judges do rule correctly according to evidence, but they don't put any penalty on nonpayment, nor do they penalize defendants appropriately if they refuse to show up for court. I know for a fact that judges will postpone court for any lame excuse of a defendant not to show up for court. That has been my truthful experience. I have won a couple of cases over rental debt, but have yet to see the money. I became so disenchanted with the justice system, I sold my rental houses.
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