United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
About This Court
The Northern District of Mississippi is one of two federal judicial districts in Mississippi, operating within the Fifth Circuit. The district covers the northern portion of the state, encompassing approximately 36 counties. Oxford serves as the primary seat of the court, with additional divisional offices located in other parts of the district.
The district handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters arising in northern Mississippi, including cases involving civil rights, agricultural disputes, and federal regulatory enforcement. The region's economy and demographics shape a docket that reflects both rural and small-city legal issues common to the Deep South.
Northern Mississippi has historically been significant in civil rights litigation, and the district's courts have addressed matters of national importance in that area. The court operates under the Local Rules of the Northern District of Mississippi and follows Fifth Circuit precedent.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Mississippi.
Divisions
Northern Division (Oxford), Delta Division (Greenville), Eastern Division (Aberdeen), Western Division (Oxford)
Caseload
The court's docket includes a notable proportion of civil rights cases, Social Security appeals, and criminal matters related to drug offenses and firearms. Agricultural and land disputes also appear with some regularity given the district's rural character.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, which generally requires admission to the Mississippi State Bar or admission pro hac vice for out-of-state counsel. Applicants must comply with the court's local rules governing admission and attorney conduct.
Clerk's Office
911 Jackson Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655
(662) 234-1971
Active Judges 6
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharion Aycock | George W. Bush | 2007 | Mississippi College School of Law |
| Debra Brown | Barack Obama | 2013 | University of Mississippi School of Law |
| Robert Chamberlin | Donald J. Trump | 2025 | University of Mississippi School of Law |
| Glen Davidson | Ronald Reagan | 1985 | University of Mississippi School of Law |
| James Maxwell | Donald J. Trump | 2025 | University of Mississippi School of Law |
| Michael Mills | George W. Bush | 2001 | University of Mississippi School of Law |
Local Rules
39 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.