U.S. Appeals Court Temporarily Blocks Creation of State-Run Court in Jackson, Mississippi

The controversial law, created by the majority-white and Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature, faces opposition from civil rights organizations and local officials.

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked the creation of a state-run court system in Jackson, Mississippi, a majority-Black city, until at least January 5, 2024.
The court system, created by the majority-white and Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature, would have unelected judges and prosecutors appointed by the state attorney general and the state Supreme Court chief justice.
Opponents, including the NAACP and Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, argue that the law strips residents of their right to vote for local officials and imposes a separate and unequal policing structure and criminal justice system on Jackson's majority-Black residents.
Supporters of the law, including its sponsor state Rep. Trey Lamar and Governor Tate Reeves, argue that the court system is part of an effort to control crime in Jackson.
Despite the temporary block by the appeals court, the state had already stated that the court did not yet have a workable place to operate and still needed to hire staff.