County Courts
County Prosecuting Attorney | District Attorney
Chancery Court | Circuit Court | Justice Court | Youth Court
County Prosecuting Attorney
Carmen Wright Sanders
P.O. Box 436
Carthage, MS 39051
601-267-8061
(Fax) 601-267-7302
District Attorney
Mark Duncan
P.O. Box 603
Philadelphia, MS 39350
601-656-1991
(Fax) 601-656-2287
Chancery Court
Cases heard in the Chancery Court include domestic/family matters, divorce, child custody, property division, adoptions, alimony, estates of descendants, land issues (titles, contracts), emancipation (declaring a minor to be 21 for work purposes), property title confirmation, property disputes (over $50,000), insurance settlements to minors, and commitments of mentally disabled.
Chancery Court Judge - District 11
Janace Harvey-Goree
P.O Box 39
Lexington, MS 39095
662-746-3894
Chancery Court Judge - District 11
Cynthia Brewer
P.O. Box 404
Canton, MS 39046
601-859-5783
Circuit Court
The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters not vested exclusively in another court. Most Circuit Court cases are heard by juries.
Circuit Court Judge - District 8
Marcus D. Gordon
P.O. Box 220
Decatur, MS 39327
601-635-3540
Circuit Court Judge - District 8
Vernon R. Cotten
205 Main St.
Carthage, MS 39051
601-267-5615
Justice Court
The Justice Court resides over a myriad of matters, from civil suits to delinquent mobile home taxes. Traffic tickets issued by the State Highway Patrol and the Sample County Sheriff's Department are resolved in the Justice Court, as well as Public Service tickets, Gaming, Fishing and Marine Reserve tickets.
This Court hears all matters with regard to DUIs and violations of County ordinances. All felony cases are first heard in the Justice Court for initial appearance and the filing of affidavit. Judges from this office have court sessions at the jail three times each week to ensure each person's right to have an initial court appearance within three days of arrest.
Justice Court Clerk
Teshia Johnson
P.O. Box 69
Carthage, MS 39051
601-267-5677
(Fax) 601-267-6134
Justice Court Judges - Eastern
Ken Adcock
P.O. Box 69
Carthage, MS 39051
601-267-5667
(Fax) 601-267-6134
Justice Court Judges - Western
Ruby Graham
P.O. Box 69
Carthage, MS 39051
601-267-5667
(Fax) 601-267-6134
Constables - Eastern
Steven McMillon
P.O. Box 69
Carthage, MS 39051
601-267-5677
(Fax) 601-267-6134
Constables - Western
Randy Atkinson
P.O. Box 69
Carthage, MS 39051
601-267-5667
(Fax) 601-267-6134
Youth Court
Cases heard in the Youth Court include matters involving delinquent children, children in need of supervision, and neglected and/or abused children.
Chancery Court | Circuit Court | Justice Court | Youth Court