Appeals Court Delays Establishment of New State-Run Court in Mississippi

Facts

• The US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Sunday granted a temporary administrative stay — requested by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) — to delay the creation of a state-run court in Mississippi's majority-Black capital city of Jackson until at least Jan. 5.¹
• The NAACP appealed after US District Judge Henry Wingate rejected requests to block the court's creation through a preliminary injunction, ruling that the plaintiffs weren't facing 'actual or imminent danger' from the court's appointments of a judge and two prosecutors.²
• The GOP-controlled, majority-white Mississippi state legislature had passed House Bill 1020 in its last session to create the Capitol Complex Improvement District Court in hopes it would improve public safety. However, the legislation's approach to crime has garnered intense criticism from opponents.²
• The NAACP went as far as suing the state over the court's formation, claiming it would undermine democracy as local voters wouldn't be allowed to elect its judge or prosecutors.³
• In response to Judge Wingate's 'thoughtful consideration and order,' Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch's office said they intend to 'defend this law on appeal' and continue to protect Jackson's citizens from 'stifling, suffocating' criminal activity.⁴

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²Mississippi Today, ³The Messenger and ⁴The Hill.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by JURIST. The statistics don't lie — Jackson is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Something has to be done to rein in this crime epidemic, and establishing a state-run court would be a step in the right direction. The court wouldn't have unfettered power under current proposals, as elected officials would be able to scrutinize it, meaning it poses no threat to democracy. There's no reason Mississippi should be blocked from establishing this body to try and remedy rampant crime in the city.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by NewsOne. Everyone agrees more must be done to prevent crime in Jackson, but this rogue court isn't the answer. By allowing the white chief justice of the state Supreme Court and the white AG to appoint judges and prosecutors, Black people — who are the majority in the city — will be disenfranchised. Moreover, it could set a precedent for citizens in other majority-Black cities to be similarly stripped of their power to determine how they're governed and policed.

Predictions