Questions about courts? CLICK HERE for Mississippi Bar brochure detailing court responsibilities and jurisdictions
Wayne County, Mississippi, Courts
Chancery Court (19th District — Wayne and Jones counties)
The Honorable Judge Jerry D. Sharp (effective July 1, 2025)
Court Administrator — Noelle McKinnon
Court Reporter — Alana Blackledge
Staff Attorney — Sarah McCormick
Address: P.O. Box 1961, Laurel, MS 39441
Office: 601-428-7625 (administration); 601-428-3625 (reporter); 601-428-3637 (staff attorney)
Fax: 601-428-3119
Wayne County Chancery Clerk William Jeremy Carr
Address: Wayne County Courthouse, 609 Azalea Drive, Waynesboro, MS 39367
Office: 601-735-2873
Fax: 601-735-6224
Chancery Court responsibilities
Wayne County’s Chancery Court handles equity cases involving domestic and family matters such as divorce, child custody and support, property division, adoptions and other related legal issues. The Chancery Court handles and processes the estates of decedents, those with or without a will, and all issues involving minors. This court also handles issues concerning title to land, contracts, injunctive matters, and commitments of persons impaired through mental disability and/or chemical-substance-alcohol abuse.
Trials are typically heard by a judge or chancellor without a jury, although state law allows parties to request a jury in Chancery Court.
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Circuit Court (10th Circuit — Wayne, Clarke, Lauderdale and Kemper counties)
The Honorable Judge Robert T. “Bo” Bailey
The Honorable Judge Charles W. Wright Jr.
Court Administrator — Gayle Wink
Judge Bailey’s address: P.O. Box 1262, Meridian, MS 39302
Judge Wright’s address: P.O. Box 1677, Meridian, MS 39302
Judge Bailey’s office telephone: 601-482-9742; Judge Wright’s office telephone: 601-482-9741
Fax: 601-486-4933 (both judges)
District Attorney Kassie Coleman
Address: 612 22nd Avenue South, Meridian, MS 39301
Office telephone: 601-482-9757
Email: da10@lauderdalecounty.org
Website: https://da-coleman.com/
Wayne County Circuit Court Clerk Kathryn “K.K.” Revette
Address: Wayne County Courthouse (first floor), 609 Azalea Drive, Waynesboro, MS 39367
Office: 601-735-1171
Fax: 601-735-6261
Circuit Court responsibilities
The Wayne County Circuit Court is a trial court that hears felony criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits that have damages of more than $200 (product liability, auto accidents, medical negligence, etc.); issues summons and subpoenas; as well as process and warrants.
The jurisdiction of circuit court also includes appeals from justice court and from county boards of supervisors, municipal authorities and other tribunals. Parties have the right to a jury trial and to appeal decisions.
Juries are widely used in circuit court with all 12 jurors required to unanimously agree to convict a criminal defendant, but only nine of 12 jurors have to agree for a decision in a civil proceeding.
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Justice Court
Post 1 — The Honorable Judge Charles Chapman
Post 2 — The Honorable Judge Ralph Smith
Justice Court Clerk — Michelle McCann
Office: 601-735-3118
Fax: 601-735-6266
Justice Court building, 814 Chickasawhay Street (Courthouse Square), Waynesboro, MS 39367
Justice Court responsibilities
Wayne County’s Justice Court judges, elected to four-year terms, have jurisdiction over all civil actions for the recovery of debts or damages involving personal property where the principal debt, amount of demand, or the value of the property to be recovered in court does not exceed $3,500.
Wayne County, with a population of less than 35,000 residents, has two justice court judges chosen from single-member election districts.
Justice court judges are required to hold regular terms of court at times subject to their discretion. Judges are required to hold at least one session of court per month, but not more than two, at a reasonable time in a courtroom established by the board of supervisors.
The justice court clerk and deputy justice court clerks are empowered to file and record actions and pleadings, issue warrants and acknowledge affidavits for the justice court. They also have the authority to collect filing fees and fines on behalf of the justice court.
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Youth Court
Referee — Kathryn “Katie” Dickerson Clay
Administrator — Shawna Clark
Prosecutor — Curtis Bates Defender — Dana Bumgardner
Office: 601-735-2190
Wayne County Courthouse (first floor), 609 Azalea Drive, Waynesboro, MS 39367
Youth Court responsibilities
This court has wide jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters involving youths. A “youth” is defined as a person who has not reached the age of 18; however, if the matter involves a violent
crime, the Youth Court may transfer the matter to Circuit Court, where the youth may be tried as an adult.
Youth Courts primarily deal with matters involving: (1) when a child commits a delinquent act – an act that would carry criminal punishments if committed by an adult; (2) when a child has been abused or neglected – whether it be physical, mental or sexual abuse/neglect; (3) when a child is unruly or in need of supervision; and (4) the involuntary committals of children in need of special care or mental treatment.
Youth Courts may also hear cases to terminate the parental rights of parents who fail or neglect to perform certain key parental duties. Cases are heard by a chancellor or referee without a jury. This court is not open to the media nor the public, and its records are sealed.
CLICK HERE for Youth Court timelines from Mississippi Access to Justice Commission
CLICK HERE for Youth Court parental rights from Mississippi Access to Justice Commission.