Mississippi senate lawmakers vote to adopt a highly debated bill on policing in Jackson

House Bill 1020 has been modified at nearly every step of the legislative process, and a final version of the bill has been adopted by the state Senate. In addition to growing the power of state police in the Capitol Complex Improvement District, it will create a temporary inferior court system for the area. Democratic Senator David Blount of Jackson says a court like this doesn’t exist anywhere else in the state.

Senator Blount says “The judges, prosecutors and staff of this court are not required to live in Jackson. The effect of it is it creates two systems of justice for people who live in Jackson. If you live in this neighborhood, you’re going to get this kind of justice. And if you live in another neighborhood in another part of town you’re going to get a different kind of justice.”

All judges in Mississippi are elected to their positions, but these temporary judges will be appointed by the state’s Chief Justice. Democratic lawmakers say this will take voting power away from Jackson residents, and city leadership claims the state is seeking to take sovereignty away from the city.

Republican Senator Bryce Wiggins says action must be taken toward reducing Jackson’s high crime rates and a backlog of court cases.

“Jackson is hurting. And Senator Horne is right, Jackson is different because it’s the capital city. And we have to do something,” says Senator Wiggins. “And I want to say, this was not about race. Because that’s been injected. This has truly been about helping the citizens of Jackson.”

House lawmakers are expected to vote on the adoption of HB 1020 today before both chambers adjourn Sine Die.