FREDRICK JONES FRED FREDRICK LEE JONES APPELLANT v. STATE OF MISSISSIPPI APPELLEE (2025)

¶1. In 1996, following a jury trial, Fredrick Jones was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault and sentenced to serve two consecutive terms of life imprisonment as a violent habitual offender. This Court affirmed Jones's convictions and sentences on appeal. Jones v. State, No. 96-KA-00235-COA (Miss. Ct. App. Feb. 10, 1998) (unpublished op.).

¶2. In 1999, Jones filed an application in the Mississippi Supreme Court for leave to file a motion for post-conviction relief (PCR) in the trial court. The Supreme Court denied the application. Jones v. State, No. 1999-M-00004 (Miss. Mar. 31, 1999) (panel order).

¶3. In 2023, Jones filed a second application in the Mississippi Supreme Court for leave to file a PCR motion in the trial court. The Supreme Court dismissed the application for failure to comply with the requirements of Mississippi Code Annotated sections 99-39-9 and 99-39-27 (Rev. 2020). Jones v. State, No. 2023-M-01034 (Nov. 1, 2023) (panel order).

¶4. Before the Supreme Court dismissed Jones's second application for leave to proceed in the trial court, Jones also filed a “Motion on Sentencing Relief” in the trial court. Jones's motion was in the nature of a PCR motion. The trial court dismissed the motion for lack of jurisdiction because Jones had not received permission from the Supreme Court to file a PCR motion. Jones filed a notice of appeal.

¶5. The trial court properly dismissed Jones's motion for lack of jurisdiction. Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-39-7 (Rev. 2020) provides that a PCR motion “shall be filed as an original civil action in the trial court, except in cases in which the petitioner's conviction and sentence have been appealed to the Supreme Court of Mississippi and there affirmed or the appeal dismissed.” Id. (emphasis added). If a prisoner's conviction and sentence have been affirmed on direct appeal, the prisoner must obtain permission from the Mississippi Supreme Court before filing a PCR motion in the trial court. Id. “This procedure is not merely advisory, but jurisdictional.” Dunaway v. State, 111 So. 3d 117, 118 (¶6) (Miss. Ct. App. 2013) (quoting Campbell v. State, 75 So. 3d 1160, 1162 (¶7) (Miss. Ct. App. 2011)). Because Jones failed to obtain permission from the Supreme Court, the trial court properly dismissed his motion for lack of jurisdiction. Id. at 119 (¶8); accord, e.g., Jackson v. State, 359 So. 3d 1132, 1133 (¶3) (Miss. Ct. App. 2023).

¶6. AFFIRMED.

WILSON, P.J., FOR THE COURT:

BARNES, C.J., CARLTON, P.J., WESTBROOKS, McDONALD, LAWRENCE, McCARTY, EMFINGER AND WEDDLE, JJ., CONCUR. ST. PÉ, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.