United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
About This Court
The Southern District of Mississippi is one of two federal judicial districts in Mississippi, sitting within the Fifth Circuit. The district covers the southern portion of the state, encompassing a broad geographic area that includes the Gulf Coast region, the Pine Belt, and areas along the Mississippi-Louisiana border. Major cities within the district include Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Biloxi.
The court maintains divisional offices across the district to serve its geographically dispersed population. The Gulf Coast divisions handle a significant volume of litigation related to insurance, maritime, and disaster-recovery matters, particularly in the years following Hurricane Katrina. The Jackson division, located in the state capital, handles a substantial portion of the district's civil rights, employment, and federal criminal docket.
As a district court within the Fifth Circuit, appeals from the Southern District of Mississippi are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, sitting primarily in New Orleans.
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, Southern District of Mississippi.
Divisions
Northern Division (Jackson), Southern Division (Gulfport), Hattiesburg Division (Hattiesburg), Eastern Division (Meridian), Western Division (Natchez)
Caseload
The district has historically handled significant insurance coverage and property damage litigation stemming from Gulf Coast hurricanes, as well as a steady volume of federal criminal cases involving drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Civil rights and employment discrimination matters also represent a notable portion of the civil docket.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to the bar of the Southern District of Mississippi to practice before the court, which generally requires admission to the Mississippi State Bar or another state bar and compliance with the court's local rules governing admission. The court also requires registration for electronic filing through the CM/ECF system.
Clerk's Office
501 East Court Street, Suite 2.500, Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 608-4000
Active Judges 10
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Bramlette | George H.W. Bush | 1991 | University of Mississippi School of Law |
| Louis Guirola | George W. Bush | 2004 | University of Mississippi School of Law |
| Kristi Johnson | Donald J. Trump | 2020 | Mississippi College School of Law |
| Daniel Jordan | George W. Bush | 2006 | University of Virginia School of Law |
| Tom Lee | Ronald Reagan | 1984 | University of Mississippi School of Law |
| Taylor McNeel | Donald J. Trump | 2020 | University of Mississippi School of Law |
| Halil Ozerden | George W. Bush | 2007 | Stanford Law School |
| Carlton Reeves | Barack Obama | 2010 | University of Virginia School of Law |
| Keith Starrett | George W. Bush | 2004 | University of Mississippi School of Law |
| Henry Wingate | Ronald Reagan | 1985 | Yale Law School |
Local Rules
40 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.
Civil Rules 37
General Rules 1
| Rule | Title |
|---|---|
| Rule 83.4 | CAMERAS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES |