Mississippi § 9-9-18 - 6.

§ 9-9-18. 6.

In order to relieve thecrowded condition of the docket in the county court and in the youthcourt of Lee County and particularly to facilitate and make possiblethe trial and disposition of the large number of causes in the youthcourt, there shall be two (2) county judges for Lee County, providedfor and elected as herein set out. For the purposes of nominationand election, the two (2) judgeships shall be separate and distinct,with the county judgeship that existed on January 1, 2018, to be denominatedfor purposes of appointment, nomination and election only as “PlaceOne” and the additional judgeship hereby created to be designatedas “Place Two.” There shall be no distinction whatsoeverin the powers, duties and emoluments of the two (2) offices of countyjudge, except that the county judge of Lee County who has been forthe longest time continuously a county judge of the county shall havethe right to assign causes, terms and dockets. Should neither judgeof the county court have served longer in office than the other, thenthat judge of the county court who has been for the longest time amember of The Mississippi Bar shall have the right to assign causes,terms and dockets. While there shall beno limitation whatsoever upon the powers and duties of the countyjudges other than as cast upon them by the Constitution and laws ofthis state, the county court of Lee County may, in the discretionof the county judge who has been for the longest time continuouslya judge of the court, be divided into civil, equity, criminal andyouth court divisions as a matter of convenience by the entry of anorder upon the minutes of the court. The initial holder ofthe additional judgeship created by this section, or “PlaceTwo,” shall be elected in the regular election of November2018. The person elected shall begin the term of office in January2019 at the same time as county judges generally, and there shallbe no vacancy of the office before that time. The two (2) judges shallotherwise be elected, and any vacancy in office filled, as providedfor county judges generally. Each county judge shallappoint a court reporter in accordance with Section 9-13-61 for thepurpose of doing the necessary stenographic work of the court. The Board of Supervisorsof Lee County may, in its discretion, set aside, appropriate and expendmonies from the general fund to be used in the payment of salariesof judges, clerks, reporters, officers and employees of the youthcourt division of the county court, including the related facilitiesof the youth court division of the county court, and such funds shallbe expended for no other purposes. The county shall not be reimbursedfor the amount of any such levy provided for by this section underthe terms of the Homestead Exemption Law.