Robin Brown, County Prosecutor
The Clay County Prosecuting Attorney (also referred to as County Prosecutor or County Attorney) represents the State of Mississippi in the prosecution of all misdemeanor (non-felony) criminal cases filed in Clay County Justice Court such as DUIs, possession of controlled substances, assaults, domestic violence cases, and traffic offenses. The County Prosecutor also prosecutes all criminal appeals from Justice Court to the Clay County Circuit Court; terms for which are held four (4) times each year, in January, April, July and October. The County Prosecuting Attorney also handles preliminary hearings on behalf of the State with regard to felony charges.
Chancery Courts
Chancery Courts have jurisdiction of disputes in matters involving equity, domestic matters, including adoptions, custody disputes, and divorces; guardianships; sanity hearings; wills and any challenges as to the constitutionality of state laws. Additionally, land record disputes are filed and settled in the Chancery Court.
Clay County is part of the 14th Chancery Court District. Other Counties that are part of the 14th Chancery District are as follows: Chickasaw, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, and Webster Counties.
Chancery Courts have jurisdiction over juvenile matters and civil commitments in counties which have no County Court. Clay County has a Youth Court which is presided over by Judge H. Scott Ross, Special Master, and a Lunacy Court which is presided over by Judge Kristen Wood Williams, Special Master, both of whom are appointed by the Senior Chancery Judge of the 14th Chancery District.
The Judges which preside over the 14th Chancery Court District are as follows:
- Judge Paula Drungole-Ellis
- Judge Joseph N. Studdard
- Judge Rodney P. Faver
For more information as to when Chancery Court is held in Clay County and the Court docket, please call the Clay County Chancery Clerk’s office at (662) 494-3124 and ask for Vicki Ray.
Click here for the NEW 2023 Schedule of Chancery Court Filing Fees for Clay County
MEC-MS Electronic Court Filing
The Clay County Chancery Clerk’s Office has implemented the Mississippi’s Electronic Court (MEC) System. This is a comprehensive, internet-based document filing and case management system that will allow our court to maintain electronic case files and offer electronic filing. It is a version of the Federal Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) System. By order of our Senior Chancellor, Judge Dorothy W. Colom,, effective November 1, 2013, all filings, signings, verification and service of pleadings and papers shall be made in accordance with the Administrative Procedures in all MEC Cases.
If you have not registered to file in MEC, please do so by calling the help desk at (601) 576-4650 or by visiting the MEC website at www.mssc.state.us/mec.html. For all other questions on the MEC Filing System, please call (601) 576-4650.
Judge Paula Drungole- Ellis
101 East Main Street
Starkville, MS 39759
(662) 323-5130
| Ct Reporter | Susan Alford | 101 East Main Street | Starkville, MS 39759 | 662-323-5130 |
| Ct Admin | Molly Jackson | 101 East Main Street | Starkville, MS 39759 | 662-323-5130 |
| Staff Attorney | Patricia Rives | P.O. Box 684 | Columbus, MS 39703 | 662-329-5844 |
Judge Joseph N. Studdard
P. O. Box 684
Columbus, MS 39703
(662) 329-5844 Office
(662) 241-1913 Fax
| Ct Reporter | Melissa Grimes | P.O. Box 684 | Columbus, MS 39703 | 662-329-5844 |
| Ct Admin | Cindy Strickland | P.O. Box 684 | Columbus, MS 39703 | 662-329-5844 |
| Staff Attorney | Patricia Rives | P.O. Box 684 | Columbus, MS 39703 | 662-329-5844 |
Judge Rodney P. Faver
101 East Main Street
Starkville, MS 39759
(662) 323-5130
| Ct Reporter | Leigh Petit | 101 East Main Street | Starkville, MS 39759 | 662-323-5130 |
| Ct Admin | Molly Jackson | 101 East Main Street | Starkville, MS 39759 | 6622-323-5130 |
| Staff Attorney | Patricia Rives | P.O. Box 684 | Columbus, MS 39703 | 662-329-5844 |
Other Related Links Regarding Chancery Court:
http://www.mssc.state.ms.us/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.html
http://www.14thchanceryms.com/
Circuit Court
The Clay County Circuit Court is in the Sixteenth Circuit Court District. Circuit Court Terms are in January, April, July and October. Grand Jury terms are during the April and October Terms. Also see the Upcoming Events for court terms and Court System for Judges information.
Jury Service
- Qualifications: Resident of Clay County, at least 21 years old, able to read and write, and not have been convicted of a felony
- Excuses: Over the age of 65, personal hardship, served on jury duty in this court in last two (2) years
- Rate of pay: $25 per day and .40 per mile if you live outside the city limits
- Checks will be mailed out after court
- Call in number for jury service is (662) 391-1064 after 5:30 pm.
Available PDFs:
Other contact information:
Judge Lee J. Howard
P O Box 1679
Starkville, MS 39760
Phone: (662) 323-6765
Court Administator: Carrie Kimbrough
Court Reporter: Kathryn Boyer
khboyer42@gmail.com
Judge James T. Kitchens, Jr.
P O Box 1387
Columbus, MS 39703
Phone: (662) 329-5919
Court Administrator: Lynn Conner
Court Reporter: Nikki Clark
60371 Smithville Rd.
Smithville, MS 38870
Judge Michelle Easterling
P O Box 1055
West Point, MS 397773
Phone: (662) 391-1067
Court Administrator: Mary Brauer
ms16dca@gmail.com
Court Reporter: Regina Russell
District Attorney’s Office
Scott Colom
http://www.msda16.org/
West Point number when in session: (662) 494-3389
MDOC Probation Office
515-B Highway 45 Alt. N
P.O. Box 265
West Point, MS 39773
Phone: (662) 494-1713
Public Defenders
Kristen Wood Williams
Marlin Stewart
Justice Court
Clay County Justice Court
P O Box 674
West Point, MS 39773
Phone: (662)-494-6140
Fax: (662) 494-6141
Judges:
Judge Thomas Hampton
Judge Chris McBrayer
Justice Court Office Staff:
Demetria Sykes-Cobb, Justice Court Clerk
Email: dsykescobb@claycounty.ms.gov
Christy Holcombe, Deputy Clerk
Email: cholcombe@claycounty.ms.gov
Lisa Perry, Deputy Clerk
Email: lperry@claycounty.ms.gov
Orlando Richmond, Jr., Deputy Clerk
Email: orichmond@claycounty.ms.gov
Constables:
Albert Lee
Sherman Ivy
Youth Court
The County Youth Court is an extension of the Chancery Court System. Chancery Courts have jurisdiction over juvenile matters in counties in which have no County Youth Court. However, the Senior Chancellor may appoint a lawyer in private practice to sit as a Youth Court Referee to hear matters involving juveniles. Clay County’s Youth Court Referee is Scott Ross.
Youth Courts deal with matters involving the abuse and neglect of juveniles and offenses committed by juveniles. A juvenile who has not reached the aged of 18 may be subject to the Youth Court System.
| Youth Court Contact Information | |
| Judge | Scott Ross West Point, MS 39773 |
| Usual Hearing Day/Time | If Chancery or Circuit Court is not in session, Youth Court is held most Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. |
| Court Address | Clay County Courthouse Upstairs Courtroom P. O. Box 815 365 Court Street West Point, MS 39773 (662) 494-3124 Office (662) 492-4059 Fax |
| Clerk | For Youth Court Matters Contact: Vicki Ray, Deputy Chancery Clerk & Youth Court Clerk Clay County Chancery Clerk Office 365 Court Street West Point, MS 39773 (662) 494-3124 Office (662) 492-4059 Fax vray@claycounty.ms.gov |
| Delinquency, Intake Personnel and Counselor: |
Kimmie M. Walker- Jones Youth Services Office P. O. Box 1896 360 Court Street West Point, MS 39773 kimmie.jones@mdhs.ms.gov (662) 494-3307 Phone (662) 494-8203 Fax |
| Youth Service Clerk: | |
| Abuse and Neglect Contact/Intake Personnel: |
Demeatria Bluitt Dept. of Human Services P. O. Box 777 266 Washington Street West Point, MS 39773 (662) 494-8987 Phone (662) 495-2436 Fax |