Henry Phillips has qualified for the Nov. 2 special election to fill an unexpired term for Justice Court Judge in Warren County’s Central District.

Phillips will join Audrey Jones Jackson, LeVern W. Powell, Rudolph Walker and James E. Jefferson on the ballot to represent central Vicksburg on the justice court bench. Qualifying ends Sept. 3.

Jefferson was appointed to the post by county supervisors in October 2009 after former judge Richard Bradford resigned.

Phillips, a Vicksburg native and Vicksburg High School graduate, holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s in elementary education from Jackson State University. Phillips also worked on a Specialist in Elementary Education degree at Alcorn State University. He pursuing a Juris Doctorate in criminal and civil law at Mississippi College in the fall.

He spent eight years in the U.S. Navy, where he encrypted information on top secret computers and communicated with U.S. Naval Ship and Shore Commands.

Justice Court Judges hear small-claim cases of up to 3,500 misdemeanor criminal cases and any traffic offenses occurring outside city limits. They also conduct bond hearings and preliminary hearings in felony criminal cases, and have the authority to issue search warrants. Justice court judges are not required to possess a law degree, but they must complete state training programs.

In Mississippi, salaries for justice court judges depend on county populations. In Warren County, the position pays $40,075 annually. Warren County has three Justice Court seats. Eddie Woods has held the Northern District spot since 2003, and Jeff Crevitt was elected from the Southern District last year.