Montgomery County Circuit Court Overview
Circuit Court is the general trial court of Mississippi. It holds original jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters that are not placed by law with another court. In plain terms, that means felony crimes and the bigger money lawsuits land here. Most Circuit Court cases are heard by a jury, which sets this court apart from the equity work done in Chancery Court. The court also reviews appeals that come up from Justice Court and from the city municipal court.
Montgomery County belongs to Mississippi's Fifth Circuit Court District. Two judges serve the district and rotate through its counties. The court meets at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Winona. Felony prosecutions in this court are brought by the District 5 District Attorney's office, which serves several nearby counties. Civil plaintiffs file their own complaints through the Circuit Clerk.
Montgomery County is a small, rural county. The U.S. Census Bureau lists a 2025 population estimate near 9,354 people, down from 9,822 in 2020, across about 407 square miles of land. A smaller population means a lighter Circuit Court caseload than a metro county, but the record types are the same: felony files, civil suits, judgments, and appeals.
You can confirm county population and demographic context on the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts page for Montgomery County. The snapshot below shows that Montgomery County profile.
These figures help set expectations for how busy the local court calendar is likely to be.
Montgomery County Trial Courts
Mississippi does not run a single numbered "district court" at the county level. Instead the local trial system is split across several courts, each with its own clerk, address, and case types. Circuit Court is the top trial court for felonies and large civil suits, but it is only one office among several. The table below lists the county's trial courts so you can match a record to the right counter.
| Court | Address | Phone | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | 614 Summit Street, P.O. Box 765, Winona, MS 38967 | 662-283-4161 | Felonies and civil matters not vested elsewhere; most cases heard by juries; appeals from lower courts. |
| Chancery Court (3rd Chancery District) | 614 Summit Street, P.O. Box 71, Winona, MS 38967 | 662-283-2333 | Divorce, custody, adoption, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, land and title disputes. |
| Justice Court | 706 Alberta Dr., P.O. Box 229, Winona, MS 38967 | 662-283-2290 | Civil claims up to $3,500, misdemeanors, traffic tickets, felony preliminary matters. |
| Youth Court | 614 Summit Street, P.O. Box 71, Winona, MS 38967 | 662-283-2333 | Delinquency, children in need of supervision, neglected or abused children; records confidential. |
| Winona Municipal Court | Office 116 Quitman Avenue; court at 706 Alberta Drive, Winona, MS 38967 | 662-283-1140 | City ordinance and municipal matters; court held 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 1 p.m. |
Each court keeps its own files. A divorce decree will not be on the Circuit Court side, and a felony indictment will not sit in Justice Court for long. Calling the right office first saves a wasted trip to the courthouse.
Circuit Court vs Chancery Court vs Justice Court
The three main trial courts split the work by subject and by dollar amount. Circuit Court takes the criminal felonies and the larger civil suits. Chancery Court handles equity, which covers family law, probate, and land. Justice Court is the entry-level court for small claims, misdemeanors, and traffic. The comparison table makes the lines clear.
| Circuit Court | Chancery Court | Justice Court | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Limit | No upper limit; larger suits | Equity and land matters, often higher value | Up to $3,500 |
| Criminal Jurisdiction | Felonies and serious crime | None | Misdemeanors, traffic, felony preliminary |
| Family / Probate | No | Yes (divorce, custody, estates) | No |
| Juries | Yes; most cases | No; judge decides | No jury at this level |
Chancery Court is a court of equity, which means a judge weighs fairness and grants relief like divorce decrees, custody orders, and estate settlements. There is no jury. The Mississippi Judiciary explains this split in detail on its Chancery Court page. The image below shows that state overview of Chancery Court duties.
If your matter involves a divorce, a will, or a land title, the Chancery Clerk is your office. If it involves a felony or a large lawsuit, the Circuit Clerk holds the file. For background on the broader records system, the county court records overview ties the offices together.
How a Case Moves Through the System
A case rarely stays in one court for life. Minor matters start low and can climb on appeal. Felony cases often begin with a preliminary step in Justice Court, then move up to Circuit Court for indictment and trial. From there, a party who loses can ask the state appellate courts to review the result. The diagram traces that upward path.
Justice / Municipal Court › Circuit Court › Mississippi Court of Appeals › Mississippi Supreme Court
Read the flow from left to right. A traffic ticket or misdemeanor is handled in Justice Court or Winona Municipal Court. A felony arrest may get its first probable-cause review in Justice Court before the grand jury acts. Circuit Court then takes the felony for indictment, arraignment, trial, and sentencing. If a party appeals, the Mississippi Court of Appeals reviews the case, and the Mississippi Supreme Court has the final word on questions it chooses to hear.
Criminal flow: Arrest › First Appearance › Indictment › Arraignment › Pretrial › Trial › Sentencing › Appeal
Civil flow: Complaint Filed › Answer › Discovery › Pretrial Motions › Trial › Judgment › Appeal
Each step adds documents to the case file. The court dockets record lists those events in date order, from the first filing to the final judgment.
Circuit Judges and Clerk
Two circuit judges serve the Fifth Circuit Court District that includes Montgomery County. They preside over felony trials, civil jury trials, and appeals heard in the district. The named Circuit Judges are:
- Hon. Alan D. Lancaster
- Hon. Joseph H. Loper
The Circuit Clerk runs the records counter. Robert M. Perry serves as Montgomery County Circuit Clerk. The office files civil and criminal Circuit Court cases, receives indictments, issues summonses and subpoenas, draws and qualifies juries, keeps the record of judgments and executions, issues marriage licenses, and handles voter registration. To reach the office, call 662-283-4161 or write to P.O. Box 765, Winona, MS 38967. You can read more about the office on the Circuit Clerk page.
Felony prosecutions in this court are handled by the District 5 District Attorney, who serves Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Grenada, Montgomery, Webster, and Winston counties. The clerk does not give legal advice, but the staff can point you to the right file or the right form.
Montgomery County Courthouse Contact
The Circuit Court and its clerk share the Montgomery County Courthouse on Summit Street in Winona. Use the contact card below to call, mail, or fax a request before you visit. The county does not publish a separate parking map or security list, so call ahead if you plan to bring records, large bags, or recording equipment.
Montgomery County Circuit Court
Montgomery County Courthouse
614 Summit Street
P.O. Box 765
Winona, MS 38967
Phone: 662-283-4161
Fax: 662-283-3363
Circuit Clerk: Robert M. Perry
For records that are not online or are hard to find, Mississippi's Public Records Act gives the fallback route. A written request to the clerk should name the parties, the approximate filing year, the court type, and the document you want. Fees are limited to actual search, copy, and mailing cost under Miss. Code Section 25-61-7.
Note: Sealed, juvenile, adoption, and expunged records are confidential under Mississippi law and are not open to general public search.
Finding Circuit Court Case Records
Montgomery County does not run a single online portal for Circuit Court cases. Records are pulled office by office, and the Circuit Clerk is the first stop for civil and criminal Circuit files. Several access channels exist, and the right one depends on whether you know the case number and how old the file is.
Try these channels in order:
- Call the Circuit Clerk at 662-283-4161 to confirm a case exists and ask how to view or copy it.
- Visit the records counter at 614 Summit Street in Winona during office hours.
- Mail or fax a written request with the party names, case number, filing year, and document type.
- Use Mississippi Electronic Courts for newer cases, though public access through PAMEC needs registration and credentials.
- File a Public Records Act request if the record is older or not produced through routine channels.
Newer Circuit Court matters were brought into the statewide electronic system, with the Montgomery County go-live recorded in December 2020. Older cases may exist only on paper at the clerk's office. Bring or list as much detail as you can, since a complete request moves faster than a vague one. Plain copies and certified copies carry a fee, but the county pages do not publish a set price, so confirm the cost with the clerk before you order.
Federal Court Context
Not every case about a Montgomery County resident is a state case. Federal crimes, constitutional claims, and many large diversity suits go to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. That court keeps its own dockets, separate from the county Circuit Court, and holds court in Aberdeen, Greenville, and Oxford. Federal files are searched through PACER and CM/ECF, not the county clerk.
To see how the county fits the federal map, view the Northern District of Mississippi map page. The image below shows that federal district layout.
If your matter is a state felony, a state civil suit, or a county judgment, the Circuit Clerk in Winona is the office of record. If it is a federal indictment or a bankruptcy filing, the federal court is the place to look. Matching the case to the court is the heart of a good record search.