A second candidate has qualified for the Lowndes County circuit court judge position.
Columbus attorney Chuck Easley has qualified through the Mississippi Office of the Secretary of State to run for circuit court judge for the 16th district of Mississippi. Incumbent James T. Kitchens previously qualified to run.
The 16th district, which includes Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay and Noxubee counties, has three circuit court judges, one elected from each area of the district — one from Lowndes County, one from Oktibbeha County and one from Clay or Noxubee counties. Circuit court primarily handles felony criminal high-value civil cases.
Receiving his law degree from the University of Mississippi, Easley has practiced law for 41 years. He has served as an assistant district attorney for Chickasaw County, a commitment lawyer for Lowndes County and served on the Mississippi Supreme Court for eight years. The rest of his experience is in private practice.
In 2015, Easley qualified to run for Lowndes County circuit clerk, but he dropped out of the race before the election.
Easley said he is running for judge because he is a fair and honest person and wants to be an advocate for citizens who believe the court system is unjust.
“Too many people are telling me that they don’t believe the court is fair,” Easley said. “Other people are telling me that you can fight your way out of anything in circuit court if you have enough money or influence.”
He will face Kitchens in the general election Nov. 8.
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