There are new rules in the 15th Circuit Court District, which includes the counties of Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion, and Pearl River.
In these rules appears the following, which caught our interest.
Upon receipt of the complaint the clerk shall file the complaint and assign a case number but not a judge. The party presenting a complaint to the clerk shall provide a 3″ x 5″ index card stating the name of the first plaintiff vs. the name of the first defendant which the clerk shall place in a box. At the end of the work day the clerk shall randomly determine which Judge will receive the first case drawn by rolling a six-sided die with 1-3 representing Place One and 4-6 representing Place Two. Should a third judge be added to the District, 1-2 shall represent Place One, 3-4 shall represent Place Two and 5-6 shall represent Place Three. After determining which Judge will receive the first case drawn, the clerk shall then draw out the index cards and assign Judges accordingly. Should a third judge be added to the District, after determining which Judge will receive the first case drawn, the clerk shall assign cases in ascending order.