FAQs • Columbus, MS • CivicEngage

Can I speak with the Judge about my case?: Speaking with the Judge about your case outside of open court is defined as ex-parte communication. Judges are strictly prohibited from engaging in ex-parte communication as dictated by the Judicial Cannons of Ethics. This communication includes email, text messages, phone calls, and personal contact. Therefore, any communication with the Judge concerning a matter that is before his court or any matter that will be before his court may only occur in open court in front of the bench.

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Court Division

1. Can I speak with the Judge about my case?: Speaking with the Judge about your case outside of open court is defined as ex-parte communication. Judges are strictly prohibited from engaging in ex-parte communication as dictated by the Judicial Cannons of Ethics. This communication includes email, text messages, phone calls, and personal contact. Therefore, any communication with the Judge concerning a matter that is before his court or any matter that will be before his court may only occur in open court in front of the bench.

2. Can you answer questions about my case?: Municipal Court Staff can only answer questions concerning procedures. We are strictly prohibited from providing you with legal advice. If you have questions concerning legal matters, we recommend that you consult with an attorney.

If an individual misses a court date for a traffic citation, the case is automatically continued for 2 weeks and our office mails a letter to the address on your driver’s license advising you of the missed court date. If you fail to appear for your second court date, 2 weeks after your initial court date, the court will issue a warrant for your arrest and suspend your driver’s license.
If you posted a bond through a bonding company for any type of charge and miss the court date that is listed on the bond, the court issues a Judgement NISI to the bonding company and immediately issues a warrant for your arrest. Further, if you miss any continued court date while you are on bond, an arrest warrant will be issued immediately. C.
If you received a citation for a misdemeanor such as possession of beer by a minor, simple possession of marijuana, etc, and were not required to post a bond, you are expected to appear at the date and time listed on your summons. If you fail to appear, the court will notify the police officer to establish probable cause for an arrest warrant. Once that occurs, the police department will have an active warrant for your arrest.

If you have proof of valid insurance at the time of the stop but simply did not have your proof, you can appear at the municipal court Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and provide a copy of your valid insurance card. The insurance must show valid on the date you received your citation on either the defendant or the vehicle that was being driven at the time of the stop. In this scenario, the court may consider a dismissal of the charge.
If you did not have valid insurance at the time of the stop but have it now, you must show proof to the court on your scheduled court date. The proof must show either valid insurance on the vehicle you were driving or valid insurance under the name of the defendant on any vehicle. In this scenario, the court may consider suspending a portion of the $500 fine.

Contact the Department of Public Safety (DPS) that issued your driver’s license. For Mississippi inquiries please refer to the DPS link on this site.
Contact the Court that requested your driving privileges to be suspended.

6. Who handles delinquent fine collections?: If you have been contacted by American Municipal Services (AMS), please contact this agency at 800-555-5160. The court can not take or make payment arrangements.