This just in from the Northern District Clerk’s email list:
On October 5, 2012, the President signed H.B. 5512, the Divisional Realignment Act of 2012, which becomes effective December 4, 2012, and eliminates the Delta Division, in which there is no longer a federal courthouse. The three divisions in the Northern District have been renamed as detailed below. The counties that were in the Delta Division have been absorbed by the remaining three divisions, with other adjustments being made to best accommodate the interests of the litigants, jurors, and the Bar. In accordance with the Act, the Local Uniform Civil Rules for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi have been amended to reflect these changes. The amended Rules will be posted on the websites for both the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi.
Aberdeen Division: Alcorn, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Itawamba, Lee, Lowndes, Monroe, Oktibbeha, Prentiss, Tishomingo, Webster, and Winston.
Oxford Division: Benton, Calhoun, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tunica, Union, and Yalobusha.
Greenville Division: Attala, Bolivar, Carroll, Coahoma, Grenada, Humphreys, Leflore, Montgomery, Sunflower, and Washington
Of course, the Delta Division, seated in Clarksdale, is long gone as a practical matter and has for years just been a vestige on the statute books.
It was always kind of odd to have two divisions west of the Western Division, so the renaming is probably good (and worth noting, along with changing captions from Western to Oxford and Eastern to Aberdeen).
I actually tried a few of lawsuits in Clarksdale, a long time ago, one before Judge Keady and two before Judge Davidson (perhaps others I don’t recall). I’m trying to remember when they closed the courtroom; the clerk’s office closed before that. I think I tried a case there in the late 80s when the clerks office was closed except when a judge was in town but the courtroom still in use.
Since they try cases and draw juries where the judge’s sit, are there ways this matters that I’m missing other than the name change for Oxford and Aberdeen? Ben? Anyone?
I think ND Miss. closed the Clarksdale courthouse in 1997 … guessing it might have been at the end of federal FY 1997, which ended September 30, 1997. But that’s no more than a guess. I think.
If you want a before and after listing of the divisions and counties in each, try this link:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/104
Most of the division details are administrivia.
I remember Jean Trawick, probably the last deputy clerk in Clarksdale. A fine woman. Also a trial where Sam Phillips sued Playboy for breach of contract (reported decision). He won.