Department of Human Services

The Lauderdale County Department of Human Services, Division of Economic Assistance, located at 5224 Valley Street, provides essential services to low income individuals with the ultimate goal of assisting them to become self sufficient. Services include food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) money payments, determination of eligibility for Medicaid and training and supportive services focused on employment opportunities.

Child support enforcement along with family and children’s services are also available for eligible clients.

5224 Valley Street
Meridian, MS 39301
601.483.3337

Court System

Chancery Court

Chancery Court hears civil cases involving real property, wills, estates, divorce, child custody and support, adoption, lunacy, and drug and alcohol commitments. Keeps record of all wills and documents filed in cases presented to the court. After a time, records are retired to the vaults of the County Archives, in the Courthouse Annex.

Carolyn Mooney, Chancery Clerk
612 22nd Avenue S
Meridian, MS 39301
601-482-9720
chanceryclerk@lauderdalecounty.org

Amanda Rainey, Chancery Court Judge
612 22nd Avenue S
Meridian, MS 39301

Judge Charles E. "Charlie" Smith, Chancery Court Judge
612 22nd Avenue S
Meridian, MS 39301

 

Circuit Court

Circuit Court of the 10th Judicial District – Lauderdale, Clarke, Wayne and Kemper counties – handles all felony criminal cases and civil cases with unlimited monetary jurisdiction (product liability, auto accidents, medical negligence, etc.), issues summons and subpoenas, process and warrants. Most cases in Circuit Court involve jury trials, which is where the duties of the Circuit Clerk come into play.

612 22nd Avenue S
Meridian, MS 39301

PO Box 1005 | Meridian MS 39302-1005

601.482.9738
Fax 601.484.3970
circuitcourt@lauderdalecounty.org

Filing Fee: $162.00 (County Court $155)

Circuit Court Administrator

Gayle Wink
PO Box 1262 |  Meridian MS 39302-1262
601.482.9742
Fax 601.484.3970
gwink@lauderdalecounty.org

Circuit Judges

Charles W. Wright, Jr
PO Box 1677
Meridian MS 39302-1677
601.482.9742

Robert T. "Bo" Bailey
PO Box 1262
Meridian MS 39902-1262
601.482.9742

 

Lauderdale County Youth Justice Center

Youth Court has exclusive jurisdiction of all cases wherein a juvenile (a child younger than age 18) is alleged to be a child in need of supervision, an abused child, a neglected child or a delinquent child (one who commits a crime).

Angela Turner, Youth Court Director
5400 20th Street Extension
Meridian, MS 39307
601.482-9825
youth@lauderdalecounty.org

Veldore Young Graham, Youth Court Judge
5400 20th Street Extension
Meridian, MS 39307
601.482-9825

Lisa Howell, Youth Court Judge
5400 20th Street Extension
Meridian, MS 39307
601.482-9825

Justice Court

Justice Court, which convenes on the sixth floor of the Courthouse Annex, deals with civil suits up to $2,500, landlord/tenant hearings, misdemeanor cases involving Mississippi Highway Patrol, Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, and Constable arrests, traffic citations and DUI’s. The Court conducts preliminary hearings, initial appearances and bond hearings, and issues arrest warrants.

Nikita Wilkins
Court Administrator

612 22nd Avenue S
Meridian, MS 39301
601.482.9879

Nicholas "Nick" Lisi
Justice Court Judge, District 1

Ondray Harris, Sr
Justice Court Judge, District 2

Paul Earley
Justice Court Judge, District 3

Buck Roberts
Justice Court Judge, District 4 & 5

County Court

County Court shares jurisdiction with Justice Court in all matters, civil and criminal. The County Court also shares jurisdiction with the Circuit and Chancery Courts in all matters of law and equity up to $200,000. The County Court Judges also hear non-capital felony criminal cases transferred by the Circuit Court, criminal and civil appeals from Justice and Municipal Court, as well as domestic abuse protection order cases.

612 22nd Avenue S
Meridian  MS 39301
countycourt@lauderdalecounty.org

County Court Clerk 

PO Box 1005 |. Meridian MS 39302-1005
601-482-9715
Fax: 601-486-4940
countycourtclerk@lauderdalecounty.org

Filing Fee: $155.00 (Circuit $162)

Court Administrator

Heather Miles
hmiles@lauderdalecounty.org

PO Box 1549 | Meridian MS 39302-1549
601.482.9756

Judges

Veldore Young Graham
PO Box 1549  |  Meridian MS 39302-1549

Lisa Howell
PO Box 1549 |  Meridian MS 39302-1549