Court Services

The Vicksburg Municipal Court is in session each Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning at 8:00 a.m. with prisoner arraignments taking place once all trials have concluded. Community Court is held on the first and third Tuesday of each month beginning at 8:00 a.m. Domestic Violence Court is held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month beginning at 1 p.m. Arraignments are each Thursday at 1 p.m.

The Vicksburg Municipal Court has jurisdiction over all traffic offenses and misdemeanor criminal violations that occur within the City of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Court Appearances

A defendant’s first appearance, whether for a traffic citation or misdemeanor, in Municipal Court is called an arraignment. At this time, the defendant will be called upon to enter a plea (or answer) to the charge against him/her. A defendant may plead GUILTY indicating that he admits he committed the offense and wishes to waive his right to a trial. A defendant may plead NO CONTEST indicating that he does not admit the charge but does NOT wish to contest the charge; or a defendant may plead NOT GUILTY indicating that he wishes to proceed to a trial on the charge. If a defendant pleads NOT GUILTY, a trial date will be set at that time.  If a plea of GUILTY or NO CONTEST is entered, the case will immediately proceed to the sentencing phase.  At this time, payment of the fine will be due and payable unless other arrangements are ordered by the Court.

A defendant may be represented by an attorney or represent himself/herself. A defendant representing himself must comply with all rules of court. In a trial, a defendant is entitled to certain rights, including: 
 

• Right to a copy of the affidavit
• Right to hear all testimony against the defendant
• Right to cross examine witnesses
• Right to testify
• Right to decline to testify without any inference drawn against the defendant
• Right to call witnesses to testify on behalf of the defendant.

Should any party need to subpoena witnesses, the clerk will do so if a list of witnesses and their addresses are provided at least 7 days prior to trial.

If a defendant fails to appear at trial, these rights are waived and the case may be tried without the defendant present. Should the defendant be found guilty, a warrant will be issued for the defendant's immediate arrest.

If a defendant posted a bond to secure his appearance in court, the bonding company will be notified of the trial date if the defendant fails to appear at arraignment. Defendants are responsible for contacting their bonding company for trial dates.

Requests for continuances must be made at least two days prior to trial unless there are circumstances beyond the control of the parties that necessitate a continuance.

All Guilty verdicts may be appealed to County Court within thirty (30) days of the decision.

Traffic Tickets

Mississippi law allows payment of a traffic ticket prior to the court date. If you prepay, you are not required to come to court. Payment may be made with cash, credit card, certified check or money order. In some cases, local checks may be accepted if funds are verified.

The date that the officer writes on the ticket for your court appearance is the plea date. If you plead Not Guilty, a court date will be set. If you plead Guilty or No Contest, the fine will be assessed at that time and payment in full is due.  For more information about traffic tickets and fines, call the Court Clerk’s office at 601-631-3742.

Driving School

Mississippi law allows the Court to send an offender to driving school under certain conditions to keep the offense off of your driving record. For adults with a regular driver’s license (not allowable with Commercial License), if you have not had a moving violation in the past three(3) years, you may be eligible for driving school.  The fine must be paid in full on your Court date along with an additional $10.00 service fee. For minors, driving school may be available, at the discretion of the Court, in lieu of a fine. The driving school itself charges a fee for the class.

Conduct in Court

Prior to being admitted into the Courtroom, each person must walk through scanners. Purses, brief cases or other carry bags are subject to being searched. Hats must be removed and persons must have on appropriate attire. Cell phones are not allowed in the Courtroom. If there is evidence to be introduced on a cell phone, the phone will be held by the bailiff until trial. Persons who insist on talking, yelling or otherwise disrupting the Court are subject to Contempt of Court and/or removal from the Courtroom.

For more information about Municipal Court, please call 601-631-3742.

Court Services Hours

Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Trials start at 8:00 a.m. 
Arraignments begin at 10:00 a.m. or as soon as the trials are completed.

Community Court is held on the first & third Tuesday of each month beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Domestic Violence Court is held on the second & fourth Tuesday of each month beginning at 1:00 p.m.