Harrison County Justice Court Gulfport: Location, Fees, and How Cases Work

Court Location and Districts

Harrison County Justice Court has two districts: the First Judicial District is at 1709 24th Avenue in Gulfport, and the Second Judicial District is at 190 Lameuse Street in Biloxi. The county covers a stretch of the Mississippi Gulf Coast including Gulfport, Biloxi, Long Beach, and Pass Christian. Check your summons for the district and hearing location.

The court's civil jurisdiction caps at $3,500 in principal demand under Mississippi Code § 9-11-9. That amount doesn't include pre-suit interest or court costs, which get added on top.

Fees and Filing Costs

Filing fees follow the statewide schedule: $45 base fee under Miss. Code § 25-7-25, plus a $5 civil legal assistance fund deposit. Constable service in Harrison County typically runs $30 to $45 per defendant served. Total initial costs for a filing or a counterclaim fall between $84 and $100.

Harrison County publishes an online Justice Court docket search that includes scheduled civil cases. Call the clerk if you need to verify a docket number or hearing date, or check whether a constable return has been filed.

Key Procedural Differences from Circuit Court

Harrison County Justice Court follows the Rules of Justice Court (RJC), which are shorter and simpler than the full Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure used in Circuit Court. The most important thing to know if you've been served: you don't need to file a written answer. Showing up on the hearing date constitutes your appearance and your contestation of the claim.

Default judgments happen when defendants don't appear, not when they don't file paperwork. Under RJC Rule 23, if the plaintiff shows up and you don't, the judge can enter a default judgment for the full claimed amount plus costs.

That's also why informal settlement conversations don't automatically cancel your hearing. Until the clerk confirms a signed dismissal order from the judge, the hearing date stands.

Counterclaims in Harrison County

If the plaintiff owes you money related to the same dispute, you can file a counterclaim under RJC Rule 16. Submit a written statement to the clerk, pay the filing fee, and have a copy served on the plaintiff.

One limit: if your counterclaim exceeds $3,500, the Justice Court judge must dismiss it without prejudice. You'd then need to file a separate action in County or Circuit Court. The Justice Court doesn't have the authority to transfer an over-limit counterclaim.

After the Hearing

Judgments in Harrison County Justice Court can be appealed to the appropriate County or Circuit Court within 10 calendar days. The appeal results in a trial de novo — a fresh trial under the full rules of civil procedure, as if the Justice Court hearing never happened. You'll need to file a Notice of Appeal and post a bond (typically double the judgment plus estimated costs).

Post-judgment interest in Mississippi runs at 8% per year under Miss. Code § 75-17-7 unless the judge orders a different rate.

For a complete walkthrough of every step from reading your summons to handling the aftermath, the Mississippi Small Claims Response Guide covers the full process.

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