Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Mississippi State-Run Court

A federal judge has ruled that Mississippi officials are allowed to move forward with creating a state-run court in Jackson despite objections from the NAACP. The court will be run by the state, which is majority-Republican and white, and it will have a judge appointed by the state Supreme Court chief justice and prosecutors appointed by the state attorney general. This has led to concerns about undermining democracy because local voters and officials won't be involved in choosing court personnel. The court's jurisdiction will include state government buildings and residential and shopping areas in Jackson. It is seen as part of an effort to control crime in the city, which has had over 100 homicides annually for the past three years. The court will have the same power as municipal courts, handling misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and initial appearances for certain criminal charges, with those convicted facing time in a state prison instead of a local jail.