Mississippi Special Sessions: Redistricting Session Canceled, Separate Youth Court Session Convened

In May 2026, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves canceled a planned special session that had been intended to address redrawing state Supreme Court districts and potentially congressional districts. The cancellation followed a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which vacated a prior opinion finding that Mississippi's Supreme Court district map violated the Voting Rights Act, thereby dissolving an injunction that had blocked use of the existing map. With the injunction lifted, Reeves stated the current map could be used in future elections and recalled his proclamation calling lawmakers into special session. Fox News reported that Reeves' decision represented a setback for a broader Republican effort tied to redistricting ahead of the midterms, and that Reeves faced pressure regarding the district of Rep. Bennie Thompson; Reeves said Mississippi's redistricting actions do not occur in a vacuum. WJTV's account centers on the legal basis for the cancellation without addressing the midterm political framing. Separately, in July 2026, Mississippi lawmakers convened a special session focused on reforming the state's youth court system. Governor Reeves said clearer laws were needed to protect children and ensure proper administration of justice. Only 24 of Mississippi's 82 counties have a full-time judge handling youth court cases, with many others relying on part-time referees, and housing juveniles in state-run facilities was cited as costing up to $100 per day, less than county facilities charge. This youth court session is reported only by Magnolia Tribune, and its relationship, if any, to the earlier redistricting session cancellation is not established in the available reporting.