Marion County Criminal Court

Marion County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Marion County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Marion County.

Appealing a Criminal Conviciton

A defendant may appeal a criminal conviction to an appellate court. In an appeal, the actual trial is not redone, but the appellate court hears arguments that the criminal case was not handled in a legal manner at the original criminal court. The appellate court can either uphold the conviction, or determine that errors were made and may request a retrial, a resentencing of the defendant or that the charges be dismissed.

If guilty, who sentences the defendant?

If the defendant is found guilty after the trial, the defendent will be sentenced. In some cases, this can occur at the same hearing the defendant is found guilty in court, in other cases a separate hearing will be required. Often the prosecution will request a particular sentence for the defendant and the judge will determine whether to enforce this sentence or impose a different sentence for the defendant.

Marion County Criminal Court

Marion County Criminal Court

Marion County Arraignments

An arraignment is a court hearing. In Marion County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Marion County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In Marion County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.

Right to an attorney

The US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment ensures the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not you can afford one. In Marion County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.

Where will Marion County criminal case hearings take place?

Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Marion County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Marion County.

Who is the prosecutor for Marion County?

Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for Marion County criminal cases will either be a representative of Marion County or a representative from Mississippi. After reviewing evidence it is the prosecutor’s decision whether to file charges or drop a case. Most prosecutors have the ability to negotiate plea bargains, and determine how the case will be prosecuted.

Who can help me in Marion County?

For general information about your case the Marion County court clerk will be able to provide legal information about your specific criminal case. Legal information is not legal advice though, the court clerk will only be able to provide information about your case, like date/time of hearings what will occur at the hearing and what you may be required to do in the hearing. They cannot provide advice about what you should do or what the best legal options may be for your particular case. Only an attorney can provide legal advice and this is your best place for information about your specific criminal proceeding. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent you, this is most often a public defender.

Burden of Proof Requirement

In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Jury Deliberation

In a jury trial in Marion County, after both the prosecution and defense have rested, the judge will give instructions to the jury and jury deliberations will begin. The jury will convence in a private room to discuss and deliberate the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Once the jury arrives at a unimanous decision, they will inform the judge that they have reached a decision. They will return to the court and the verdict will be read aloud. If the jury cannot reach a unaminous decision, the jury is said to be deadlocked and a mistrial will be declared in the case.

The Right to Trial by Jury

The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by a jury. This is applicable for when the crime can carry a sentence of 6 months in jail OR a $500 fine, these are known as “Serious Crimes”. The defendant can also waive their right to a speedy and public trial.

What is a Plea Agreement?

A plea agreement is a deal made between the prosecution and the defendant in a case, where the defendant agrees to plea guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor. In practice, more than 90% of criminal cases end with a plea agreement.

Required Court Appearances in Marion County

Any required court appearances in Marion County Criminal Court must be attended by the defendant. Failure to appear in court at your required date and time may result in the judge issuing an arrest warrant.

Marion County Criminal Court Locations

  • Marion County Circuit Court

    Address: 250 Broad St, Ste 1, Columbia MS 39429
    Phone: 601-736-8246 Fax: 601-731-6344

  • Marion County Chancery Court

    Address: 250 Broad St, Ste 2, Columbia MS 39429
    Phone: 601-736-2691 Fax: 601-444-0206

  • Marion County Youth Court

    Address: 250 Broad St, Ste 2, Columbia MS 39429
    Phone: 601-736-2691 Fax: 601-444-0206

  • Marion County Justice Court

    Address: 500 Courthouse Sq, Ste 2, Columbia MS 39429
    Phone: 601-736-2572 Fax: 601-736-2580

  • Columbia Municipal Court

    Address: 205 2nd St, Columbia MS 39429
    Phone: 601-736-4418 Fax: 601-736-7066

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.