Mississippi suffered a massive blow to its court system because of Katrina, as two of the most active litigating counties in the state have extensive damage to their infrastructure. Read all about it in the Hurricane Katrina Judicial Assessment Committee's Preliminary Report.

This is going to create a massive shift in litigation strategies, particularly since the 2d Circuit Court District (comprising Hancock, Harrison, and Stone Counties) is going to have to be manages in a completely new way. The 2d District thinks that so many people have been displaced, especially from Hancock County, which suffered some of the most complete devastation in Mississippi, that jury pools will have to be drawn up DISTRICT-WIDE. This would require at minimum special legislation, but possibly even an amendment of the state constitution. If they do amend the state constitution, this may be a precursor to consolidation of counties or a major political restructuring of the state.

Stay tuned, gentle readers.