All Mississippi courts now linked by unified e-filing system

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Mississippi courts reached a major milestone on June 30, 2025 with the completion of a statewide electronic filing (e-filing) and case management system, now in use in all 82 Circuit Courts and 24 County Courts. All Chancery Courts had joined as of June 2023.

Mississippi Electronic Courts (MEC) now serves all 188 trial courts, as well as appellate courts, through a unified e-filing system that improves efficiency, transparency, and public access.

“The successful statewide implementation of MEC marks a historic milestone,” said MEC Director Nathan Evans. “We’ve taken a significant leap forward in access to justice.”

The internet-based system allows attorneys, judges, and court staff to file and view documents 24/7. Documents are instantly docketed and accessible online, reducing paperwork and increasing efficiency.

The final phase of implementation came when Harrison County Circuit and County Courts began using MEC for criminal filings. Both had used the system for civil filings since 2011.

Though some judges still prefer paper files during proceedings, many say the ability to access documents digitally has improved preparation, scheduling, and communication. Hinds County Chancellor Crystal Wise Martin credited the system’s reliability during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it “instrumental in helping our legal system adapt.”

MEC was first piloted in Madison County in 2009 and has since expanded steadily. The system is modeled on the federal court e-filing platform, but Mississippi is the only state using it at the state level without third-party vendors. MEC owns and manages the system and its data.

Access is available to the public through PAMEC, the portal for electronically filed documents, with some sensitive case types restricted. Fees help fund the program, which has generated more than $6.6 million in usage revenue since 2011.

The rollout was mandated by state law in 2020 and is supervised by the Mississippi Supreme Court.