Chris Hemphill officially was sworn in as Lowndes County District 1 Justice Court judge Tuesday at the Lowndes County Courthouse.
Lowndes County Chancery Court Judge Jim Davidson guided Hemphill through his oath of office in a small ceremony attended by Hemphill”s wife and children and Lowndes County District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders.
“I think he”ll perform excellent,” said Sanders. “He performed well when he was interim, and the Board of Supervisors appointed him as interim because we knew that he”d do a good job, and it”s a good thing the electorate felt the same way.”
Hemphill defeated Ron C. Cooke by just four votes Nov. 24 to take over the spot vacated by the late Phillip Robertson, who died in November 2008.
A review of absentee ballots, which swayed the election for Hemphill, found all totals had been counted correctly. The Lowndes County Circuit Clerk”s office reviews the ballots shortly after the election.
“All the boxes tallied up to exactly what the circuit clerk said on election night,” said Hemphill.
Cooke agreed the election results appeared to be in order.
With the election behind him, Hemphill said he can finally consider his job permanent.
“It feels a little bit better. I”m more comfortable in the position now. I can make the office my own. I hadn”t even decorated the office,” he said.
A 17-year veteran attorney before moving up to Justice Court judge, Hemphill said he”s learned a lot during his interim year.
“It”s not easy being a judge. There”s always two sides to a story and a case, and both sides want me to think they”re right,” he said.
Kim Hemphill said her husband transitioned easily to the bench after his time as an attorney. The biggest challenge was the election campaign to retain the position, she said.
“I haven”t noticed any added stress other than during the campaigning,” she said. “I”m very proud of him. I know he will do a great job, be fair and impartial and apply the law as written.”
Davidson, who has known Hemphill for years, predicts he will be a strong judge.
“He was very thorough as a lawyer — very confident, very honest and very forthright. So I assume and feel confident he”ll continue to do that,” said Davidson.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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