How Mississippi DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Mississippi is prosecuted in the Justice Court or Municipal Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
First-offense misdemeanor DUI is heard in Mississippi circuit, county, justice or municipal court depending on the arresting agency, while felony DUI — aggravated DUI or a third or later offense — is heard in circuit court. Appeals from justice or municipal court go to county or circuit court for a trial de novo, and circuit judgments are appealable to the Mississippi Supreme Court or Court of Appeals.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at courts.ms.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Mississippi
A DUI case in Mississippi is heard in the Justice Court or Municipal Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 10 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-30 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Mississippi's implied-consent section, Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-5. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 10 days — The Commissioner of Public Safety reviews the arresting officer's report and issues the notice of suspension under Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-23. You have 10 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the Justice Court or Municipal Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the Justice Court or Municipal Court. First-offense misdemeanor DUI is heard in Mississippi circuit, county, justice or municipal court depending on the arresting agency, while felony DUI — aggravated DUI or a third or later offense — is heard in circuit court.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Circuit, chancery and county courts file through the Mississippi Electronic Courts system.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $250–$1,000, jail exposure up to 48 days, a licence suspension of 4 months. Prior offenses within 5 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense carries a fine, up to 48 hours jail, and a suspension that interlock can shorten.
- 6Reinstatement — Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-31 establishes the interlock-restricted licence and the Interlock Device Fund for indigent offenders. Mississippi requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Mississippi
- Circuit, chancery and county courts file through the Mississippi Electronic Courts system.
- Municipal courts are courts of record for DUI prosecutions within their jurisdiction.
- The core offense is Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-30, covering alcohol and drug impairment.
- Section 63-11-30 provides non-adjudication and expunction options in certain first-offense cases.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Mississippi ZIP codes covered
These Mississippi ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Mississippi resources
Counties
Other Mississippi official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Mississippi?
- First-offense DUI cases in Mississippi are heard in the Justice Court or Municipal Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Mississippi?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the MS driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 10 days of arrest.