Mississippi lawmakers meet at old and new capitols for youth court overhaul

The Mississippi Legislature held a special session Wednesday in Jackson to consider overhauling the state’s youth court system. The session was called by Gov. Tate Reeves after key laws and funding expired at the end of the regular session, prompting the need for reforms.

Due to major renovations at the Capitol, the House met at the Old Capitol, which is now a museum, while the Senate convened in its regular chamber. The logistical arrangements led to some scrambling among staff and grumbling among lawmakers, who were notified last-minute, according to sources.

During the session, lawmakers discussed proposals including increasing full-time judges, creating two new juvenile detention facilities, and addressing expired statutes that have resulted in lawsuits. The reforms would require roughly $29.5 million in additional funding, according to officials.

Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann presided over the Senate, while House Speaker Jason White led the House session. Democratic and Republican lawmakers expressed concern over limited input and the rushed nature of the session. Democratic Sen. Hob Bryan attempted to delay the process, arguing that more public input was needed.

The Senate Judiciary A Committee began debating the reforms Wednesday evening. Sen. Brice Wiggins, a Republican from Pascagoula, criticized the current system of part-time referees handling youth cases in rural areas, calling it ineffective. The committee plans to continue discussions into Thursday and possibly beyond.

Reeves and proponents emphasized that extensive work had gone into the legislation. The Old Capitol, historically associated with Mississippi’s segregationist past, was chosen as the venue for the session, a decision that drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers. As of now, Reeves has not scheduled a redistricting session, which had been previously contemplated for the same site.

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