Civil Matters

Judge Chaney requires a scheduling order to be entered in all civil matters. All civil matters should be completed within eighteen (18) months from the filing date absent unusual circumstances.

If you receive a correspondence requesting a scheduling order and/or trial setting be entered, and no response to that request is received by the deadline given, the Court, at that time, will enter a scheduling order and/or trial setting for you. A status conference may be scheduled in any civil matter as the Court deems appropriate.

Orders

All proposed orders, for all counties, can be forwarded to Judge M. James Chaney, Jr., Attn: Court Administrator, Post Office Box 351, Vicksburg, MS 39181. All Agreed Orders must contain all counsel/parties’ signatures.

Should you have difficulty obtaining a signature for a hearing, file the proper motion and schedule a hearing date.

Motions

Judge Chaney does not have “Motion Hearing” Days. If there is availability on the docket, a hearing can be scheduled. Because availability changes frequently, you must contact the Court Administrator to schedule a motion hearing. Once a hearing is scheduled, please forward a copy of the motion and Notice of Hearing to the Court Administrator.

If a hearing needs to be cancelled, please forward in writing, a letter or Notice of Cancellation to that effect and the hearing will be removed from the docket. You can forward your letter or notice via email, mail, or facsimile. You will receive a confirmation via e-mail that the hearing has been removed from the docket.

Pursuant to the Uniform Rules of Circuit and County Court Practice, be sure to forward a copy of any motion and/or brief filed with the clerk’s office to the Judge’s office.

Mediation

Mediation is not required, only suggested, if the parties agree that mediation would be helpful in resolving the matter. If mediation is agreed upon, notify the Court Administrator in writing, and the Court will enter an Order to Mediate. The Court follows the Court Annexed Mediation Rules of Civil Litigation adopted and implemented by the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Civil Trials

To schedule a trial for a civil matter, please review the Court Calendar for availability. Judge Chaney requires that a second and first setting (in that order) be scheduled.

Once all counsel has agreed upon a date(s), the Court Administrator must be notified so that your date(s) can be reserved on the trial calendar. Judge Chaney requires that an Agreed Order Setting Trial be entered, and if said order is not received within two (2) weeks of notifying the Court Administrator of the agreed trial date(s), the case will be removed from the trial docket.

If your case settles and has already been placed on the trial calendar, please forward a letter explaining same to the Court Administrator and the trial will be removed from the calendar.

Continuances

To request a trial continuance, the proper motion must be filed and a hearing scheduled.

Pre-Trial

Judge Chaney requires that a Pre-Trial Order be entered to Judge Chaney’s office via e-mail, fax, or mail no later than a date agreed upon by the parties and included in the Scheduling Order. As the trial date approaches, the Court will forward a letter to all parties advising of pre-trial deadlines and the date for a pre-trial conference to be held.

Evidence Presentation System

We are very fortunate to have the JAVS Evidence Presentation System in the Warren County Courtroom. If you need to ‘practice’ or need a demonstration, please contact the Court Administrator.

Should you wish to use a PowerPoint presentation, you must bring your own laptop. Our equipment does not contain a PowerPoint presentation system.