JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) Court held an opening ceremony on Friday, January 24.

The new court is located at 201 South Jefferson Street in Jackson. The CCID Court will officially open for business at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, January 27.

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph announced judicial appointments to the CCID Court. James Holland and Stanley Alexander are full-time judges of the CCID Court, and Christopher Collins will serve as a part-time judge. All live in Jackson.

The NAACP ended its lawsuit that challenged a decision by the Mississippi Legislature to create a new state court in Jackson.

The civil rights group and local residents sued the state in 2023 to try to block creation of a court in the CCID, an area that includes downtown and other parts of Jackson with state government buildings and affluent shopping areas.

The NAACP originally argued that the new court would undermine democracy because Jackson voters or local elected officials would not choose the judge or prosecutors. State law says the court will have a judge appointed by the state Supreme Court chief justice and prosecutors appointed by the state attorney general. The current chief justice and attorney general are both white and conservative.

Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) and legislators who created the new court say it is part of an effort to control crime in Jackson.

The CCID will have the same power as municipal courts, which handle misdemeanor cases, traffic violations and initial appearances for some criminal charges. People convicted in most municipal courts face time in a local jail. Those convicted in the new court will be held in a state prison, near people convicted of more serious felony crimes.

Most municipal judges are appointed by city officials.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.