The Mississippi Supreme Court issued the following statement.
Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph swore in Judges James Holland, Stanley Alexander and Christopher Collins during a Jan. 24 ceremony at the Capitol Complex Improvement District Court.
Judges Holland and Alexander are full-time judges of the CCID Court, and Judge Collins will serve as a part-time judge to sign search warrants and take the bench if the full-time judges have a conflict. All live in Jackson.
Every seat in the courtroom was taken and people stood along three of the four walls. Gov. Tate Reeves exclaimed, “Wow! What a turnout. I can recall going to press conferences where I thought it was really important and nobody showed up.”
Gov. Reeves said, “The opening of the CCID Court is yet another major step toward a safer Jackson. Jackson is a city of great importance to Mississippi. It is our capital. It is a seat of government. It’s a cultural hub for our state and it is filled with incredible people.”
Referring to the fight over House Bill 1020 that created the CCID Court, the Governor said, “We all know it hasn’t always been easy and it hasn’t always been popular, but every single resident in the city of Jackson deserves to feel safe when they walk outside their homes. The court we open today is another critical step in the long-term success of our great capital city.”
Gov. Reeves said that State Capitol Police during 2024 made more than 900 felony arrests and seized more than 300 illegal firearms. “Every gun and every drug seizure saves lives,” he said.
House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Trey Lamar of Senatobia, principal author House Bill 1020, said the bill was about safety for the citizens of Jackson and visitors, about a justice system which works effectively, and about encouraging capital investment and job creation in Jackson. “This CCID Court is for the regular people of Jackson, the ones who want their children and their grandchildren to be able to play outside in the yard without fearing for their safety,” he said. “The CCID Court is for the families who will be supported by jobs, the future jobs that will be located right here in Jackson because of entrepreneurs and job creators that felt safe enough to invest capital here inside our capital city.”
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell supervises multiple state law enforcement agencies, including Capitol Police. He said, “I can assure you that from the Department of Public Safety standpoint and the Capitol Police and other divisions, that we will always work tirelessly for a safer Mississippi and a safer Jackson.”
Tindell thanked state leaders and behind the scenes workers who helped transition Capital Police from a separate agency into a larger police force under the Department of Public Safety. He also noted the work that the Department of Finance and Administration put into remodeling a former bus station to create a facility that signifies the dignity of a courthouse.
Chief Justice Randolph recalled media inquiries in recent months about the CCID Court opening date and appointment of judges. He waited until the courthouse was ready to make the announcement. In recent months, he answered inquiries with a question: “Have you ever seen a case tried outside?” At the ceremony, he repeated, “I’ve never tried one outside either.”
Chief Justice Randolph drew a parallel between the CCID Court and the legislatively created Mississippi Court of Appeals, which celebrated its 30thanniversary last week. Those judges 30 years ago and those today joined a court that had not existed before. “These three judges are courageous.”
He recalled litigation in opposition to the CCID Court that made him a defendant. He was dismissed as a defendant, based on judicial immunity, in state and federal court. “Those days are gone. It’s time for people to get together, to unify and to work together to have a good court that will represent the people in Jackson, everybody in Jackson.”
Chief Justice Randolph brought along the three books on which he relies: The Constitution of the State of Mississippi, the Bible and the Mississippi Rules of Court. “I told all three of these judges, ‘I want you to look at the Constitution, I want you to read it and know it and understand it.’ ” He gave each a copy.
He noted that the constitution of every state invokes the blessing of God or a supreme being. He said that he was impressed that all three CCID judges are very involved in their churches. Alexander and Collins are church deacons, and Holland is a former Episcopal warden.
Chief Justice Randolph said, “I am not afraid to put people on here that will look to the Lord to assist them, because you realize that as a judge that the problems that you face are bigger than you, the person. You have to reach to a higher source.”
It was important that the CCID judges have community ties to Jackson. “I wanted people that are local, that know Jackson,” Chief Justice Randolph said. Alexander is a lifelong resident of Jackson. Holland lives on the same street where he grew up. Collins moved to Jackson.
Referring to Judge Holland and his wife, he said, “Their church is in the district. They shop in the district. That’s their life.” He said that Holland gave up a well-paying position in private law practice. “He sacrificed himself to serve because he cares.”
He also cited letters of recommendation that people around the state and around the country wrote to him regarding the judges’ qualifications. He read a letter that a prosecutor in the 10th Circuit District wrote regarding Alexander: “He works hard. He’s efficient. He works tirelessly. He diligently seeks justice for crime victims. He’s tough but fair. He’ll be great. His intelligence, leadership skills, enthusiasm and work ethic are admirable and inspiring He’s wise. He’s patient. His congenial temperament will make him an excellent judge.”
He noted that Collins has a wide range of experience as a tribal judge, circuit judge and municipal judge as well as serving as both a prosecutor and a public defender.
Chief Justice Randolph also swore in Dr. Bryana Smith McDougal of Madison as Clerk of the CCID Court. “You know how proud I am of you,” he said. She recently completed her Doctor of Business Administration/ Strategic Management degree from Belhaven University. She worked as a judicial assistant to Presiding Justice Jim Kitchens before taking the position of CCID Court clerk.
The CCID Court will adjudicate misdemeanor offenses investigated by State Capitol Police and traffic citations written by Capitol Police, as well as conduct initial appearances for felony offenses investigated by Capitol Police. Traffic court will be held each Tuesday. Misdemeanor trials will be conducted on Thursdays. Initial appearances will be conducted each weekday morning. All fines collected by the CCID Court will be forwarded to the City of Jackson.
Katharine Surkin of Madison, Director of the Administrative Office of Courts, said that the court system will be paperless. “We have partnered with DigiCourt to create a paperless case management system that links directly to Capitol Police and is accessible by prosecutors and defense attorneys alike.”
The Legislature tasked the Administrative Office of Courts with building the CCID Court, she said. “We worked and continue to work with DFA and their team of architects to create a space that could successfully operate as a court….We have worked with attorneys from the Mississippi Judicial College, the Attorney General’s Office, Hinds County Public Defender’s Office and the State Public Defender’s Office to draft local rules, manuals, policies and procedures. We are working closely with DPS, Capitol Police and the City of Jackson to ensure that this court operates efficiently and safely.”
Funding for two CCID judges, a part-time judge and support staff is detailed in Section 24 of House Bill 1820, the judicial branch appropriation bill adopted in 2024. Please see Section 24 of House Bill 1820 at this link: https://billstatus.ls.state.
The CCID judges’ appointments are for terms which commenced Jan. 1, 2025, and continue through July 1, 2027, the date of the legislatively enacted repealer on the CCID statute, Miss. Code Ann. § 9-12-1(5).
14 comments:
Stan finally got his shot! Good for him. He was never electable.
James holland? Civil lawyer for decades. Nice guy. This will be interesting
Stan is a great attorney and an even better person. Jackson is fortunate to have him on the bench.
The fact that you say he was never electable means he should be a good judge.
What does this court do? It’s a municipal court and per statute ccid doesn’t enforce city ordinances. So 8 square miles if misdemeanors and meaningless initial appearances? Surely this is a part time job
This is nothing more than the old white man's "local" security apparatus in and around the Big House. The Lamars led the call as usual.
@11:31 PM - They can perform marriages, so maybe this will solve the one parent home problem in Jackistan. If nothing else it is an employment scheme for the good ol' boys club.
So, if the Barksdalers aren't behind something, you view it as non-essential to citizen safety and order?
Judges selected and appointed by judges. An opportunity to finally get some intelligent people on the bench in a state where most rise out of silly local politics and the whim of voters who have no idea about judicial qualifications. A step in the right direction. A small step.
@9:42am The "Barksdalers" are communists....the present day Mississippi "Republican" (RINO) leaders are dirt dumb idiots who like fleecing the poor - black and white alike, and they have to protect the racist gravy train. All the while, backslapping their inner circle saying, "See you in Church." They're all PsOS. Little Lord Fauntleroy Trey Lamar is the messenger boy of his family who strive keep the white supremacy going since the lost cause.
Never seen this much show and sparkles over misdemeanors and traffic offenses
Oh and speeding tickets. Watch out
Celebrated like opening of The Hague.
Such an obvious Democrat plant comment. No word about how the Lumumba's racist past.
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