Judge allows Mississippi to create court in Black-majority capital city. In a contentious legal battle, a federal judge has permitted Mississippi to establish a state-run court in Jackson, the state capital with a majority Black population, despite objections from the NAACP.
The NAACP had filed a lawsuit against Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves and state officials, arguing that the creation of a new state-run court unfairly targets residents of Jackson and poses a threat to democracy due to the state’s authority in appointing judges.
The proposed Capitol Complex Improvement District Court in Jackson would have its judge appointed by the state Supreme Court chief justice, with prosecutors selected by the state attorney general.
Critics, including the NAACP, argue that this structure fails to adequately represent the interests of Jackson’s majority-Black community. They express concerns that the state’s influence over the court’s appointments could result in decisions that do not align with the needs and values of the city’s residents.
U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate dismissed the NAACP’s requests to halt the creation of the new court in a filing just one day before the law setting it up was set to take effect. Wingate explained that the plaintiffs did not present evidence of an actual or imminent danger of experiencing specific injuries resulting from the establishment of the Capitol Complex Improvement District Court.
“None of the Plaintiffs has alleged that he or she is in actual or imminent danger of experiencing any concrete and particularized injury resulting from the establishment of the [Capitol Complex Improvement District] Court or the challenged appointment of a judge or prosecutors for that court,” wrote Wingate in his decision.
Governor Tate Reeves had signed two bills into law last year that are central to the NAACP’s lawsuit. House Bill 1020 created a separate legal system for the Capitol Complex Improvement District, a 17.5-square-mile area surrounding the Capitol building in Jackson. Senate Bill 2343 mandated that those protesting at the state Capitol obtain permits from the Capitol Police, an entity controlled by the state.
The NAACP’s lawsuit, filed in April, argues that these laws violate the 14th Amendment by discriminating against the citizens of Jackson. The suit claims that the legislation establishes a separate and unequal policing structure and criminal justice system for the majority-Black residents of Jackson, a violation of their constitutional rights.
The judge’s decision has intensified the legal dispute, prompting the NAACP to take the case to the 5th Circuit. Despite the setback in the district court, the NAACP secured an administrative stay on the provisions of House Bill 1020 that would establish the new court. This stay temporarily prevents the implementation of the contested aspects of the legislation until the appeals process is complete.
The ongoing legal battle underscores broader issues surrounding racial disparities and the protection of constitutional rights. Critics argue that the establishment of a state-run court with appointed officials threatens the principles of equal representation and impartial justice, particularly in a community with a significant Black population. The NAACP’s decision to appeal reflects a determination to challenge what they perceive as discriminatory practices and to seek legal remedies to protect the rights of the residents of Jackson.
