The Capital Complex Improvement District officially has its own court after years of litigation surrounding legislation enacted to further law enforcement efforts in Jackson.
An opening ceremony was held at the court’s 201 South Jefferson Street location on Friday. Though the inferior court resides in Mississippi’s capital city, Jackson officials have no authority over its operations. Rather, the state will head the judicial process carried out within the facility.
The court was ultimately able to come to fruition after the NAACP dropped its lawsuit against House Bill 1020, which was etched into law by Gov. Tate Reeves in 2022. The bill expanded the jurisdiction of Capitol Police while simultaneously creating a court with appointed judges.
Critics of the legislation contended that the majority white and Republican legislature was attempting to take control of a majority Black city by stymying the voices of the local electorate. However, NAACP officials ultimately had a change of heart after assurances were made that the people of Jackson would be protected, rather than harmed by the court.
“Plaintiffs are heartened by reports that the CCID Court will be established with appropriate safeguards for Jackson’s residents, and have decided to drop their challenge to the manner of appointing officials to serve that court,” attorneys representing the NAACP wrote in their motion for voluntary dismissal of the case.
Proponents of the court argue that crime has run amock in the capital city and that an expedited judicial process will ultimately yield positive results in keeping criminal behavior off the streets.
Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Randolph, who was legislatively tasked with appointing bench members for the CCID court, has tabbed three Jackson residents to hold judicial positions. James Holland and Stanley Alexander will serve as full-time judges while Christopher Collins will fill a part-time role. The judges’ terms will last from now until July 1, 2027.
Holland has resided in Jackson’s Fondren district for more than five decades and has practiced law for more than four decades. He has defended litigation in both state and federal courts against individuals and companies
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