Sixteenth District circuit judges were sworn in at the Lowndes County Courthouse Tuesday, giving the district a third judge for the first time.
Lee S. Coleman, of Clay County, won the November runoff election to become the first Place 3 judge, joining judges Jim Kitchens, of Lowndes County, and Lee Howard, of Oktibbeha County.
Each of the district”s four counties had ceremonies to swear in the judges, Coleman said.
“I”d rather be here than anyplace else,” he said at the Lowndes County ceremony. “I”m looking forward to working in the judicial system here.”
The new judgeship is much needed, Howard said.
“I”m very glad to get the third judge on board,” he continued. “It won”t decrease the docket so much as keep it from growing.”
About 425 active cases carried over from the November circuit court term in Lowndes County, said Circuit Court Clerk Mahala Salazar. With new cases, more than 500 cases are on the docket for the county”s February term.
Cases in Lowndes County are routinely continued because judges run out of time during the term.
Howard said he split up the new case load to give Coleman time to adjust in his new role.
“This is not something you pick up overnight,” Howard said. “Just because you”ve been a lawyer doesn”t mean you can just walk in and be a judge.”
Howard and Kitchens will handle pre-2010 cases and most 2010 cases, Coleman will handle some 2010 cases, and the computer system will automatically assign 2011 cases by rotation. Capital cases will also be assigned by a separate rotation system.
Coleman will try his first cases Monday in the January term of the Clay County Circuit Court, where he will join Kitchens.
By February, when the first term of the Lowndes County Circuit Court begins, Coleman should be more confident, Howard said.
All three candidates thanked the community for its support at the ceremony, which had a “good turnout,” Kitchens said.
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