The Mississippi Electronic Courts filing and case management system is now live for all of the state’s circuit courts, chancery courts and county courts, giving judges and attorneys access to file and view documents electronically at any time.

Harrison County’s circuit court and county court were the first to join the MEC system in 2011 for civil cases, a July 2, 2025, press release from the Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts said. It noted that Hinds County’s circuit, civil, county and chancery courts began using the system for civil cases in 2013.

Throughout the 14-year process, the state’s courts have filtered into the system, with the remaining courts joining on June 30.

An exterior view of the Mississippi Supreme Court building as seen from across the green lawn
The Mississippi Supreme Court signed onto an agreement with the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts to study the possibility of adapting electronic filing systems for state courts in 2007. Photo by Torsheta Jackson, Mississippi Free Press

MEC Director Nathan Evans said that completing the implementation of MEC in all counties was a major accomplishment for Mississippi that will help the legal system operate more efficiently.

“The successful statewide implementation of the MEC system marks a historic milestone for the Mississippi Judiciary,” he said in the announcement. “With both appellate courts and all 188 Chancery, Circuit and County Courts now operating on a single, centralized case management and e-filing system, we have taken a significant leap in efficiency, transparency, and access to justice for the public we serve.”

Judges and attorneys have access to hearing dates, case timelines and case filings through the system, saving them from making a trip to the courthouse to obtain the information.

Official photo of Nathan Evans
Mississippi Electronic Court Director Nathan Evans said completing the execution of MEC in all counties was a major accomplishment for Mississippi that will help the legal system operate more efficiently. Photo courtesy Beverly Kraft

Developers began planning for MEC in 2005 and modeled it after the electronic filing system for the federal courts. In 2007, the Mississippi Supreme Court signed onto an agreement with the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to study the possibility of adapting electronic filing systems for state courts. Chancery courts were in the first system development in 2009 because chancery proceedings are vastly different from federal court proceedings.

MEC funds itself through fees to access documents, civil filing fees and renewal fees, generating a total of $6.6 million since 2011, the press release said. As of June 30, MEC has 9,460 registered attorney users, 18,626 non-attorney users and 193 firm administrator users. 

Members of the public can also view documents for 20 cents per page in the Public Access Mississippi Electronic Case Management system by paying an annual registration fee of $10. The announcement noted that remote access is not available for cases sealed by the court or cases involving debt collection, garnishment, replevin, child custody or visitation, child support, divorce, termination of parental rights, birth certificate correction, conservatorship, guardianship, minor’s settlement or protection from domestic abuse.

Official photo of Tomika Irving
Mississippi 22nd Circuit Court District Judge Tomika Irving, a Fayette, Miss., resident, has used MEC for Claiborne and Jefferson counties’ electronic filings since 2019 and since 2020 for Copiah County’s filings. Photo courtesy Mississippi Judiciary

Mississippi 22nd Circuit Court Judge Tomika Irving, a Fayette, Mississippi, resident, has used MEC for Claiborne and Jefferson counties’ electronic filings since 2019 and for Copiah County’s filings since 2020. She said digitized records relieve court clerks of “administrative burdens” while boosting transparency for the public.

“Judges can instantly review filings, motions, and case histories from any location, allowing for better preparation, more informed decision-making and caseload management. Attorneys can file documents online 24/7 without traveling to courthouses and receive immediate notification of new filings and orders from the court. Not to mention, they have access to an online, organized court file,” she said on July 2.

“Parties can view their case progression and filings without leaving their homes or requesting them from their attorneys,” Irving continued. “The only disadvantages to the system would be limited access to some parties living in rural areas or older adults without reliable internet or computer access and disparities in digital literacy.”

The Mississippi Electronic Courts system is located at this link.

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State Reporter Heather Harrison has won more than a dozen awards for her multi-media journalism work. At Mississippi State University, she studied public relations and broadcast journalism, earning her Communication degree in 2023. For three years, Heather worked at The Reflector student newspaper: first as a staff reporter, then as the news editor and finally, as the editor-in-chief. This is where her passion for politics and government reporting began.
Heather started working at the Mississippi Free Press three days after graduation in 2023. She also worked part time for Starkville Daily News after college covering the Board of Aldermen meetings.
In her free time, Heather likes to sit on the porch, read books and listen to Taylor Swift. A native of Hazlehurst, she now lives in Brandon with her wife and their Boston Terrier, Finley, and calico cat, Ravioli.