FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 2, 2008

                 GOVERNOR BARBOUR’S JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE  SEARCHING TO FILL VACANCY

(JACKSON, Mississippi) - Governor Haley Barbour’s Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee is conducting a search to fill the vacancy on the Mississippi Circuit Court (Second District - Hancock, Harrison and Stone Counties) in South Mississippi as a result of Judge Stephen B. Simpson’s recent appointment as Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.  Judge Simpson was confirmed by the Mississippi Senate last week.   

“On behalf of the citizens of Mississippi I want to thank Judge Simpson for his dedicated service as Circuit Judge and look forward to working closely with him in his new position as Commissioner of Public Safety," Governor Barbour said.

The Governor’s Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee will review nominees in accordance with Executive Order 914 and make recommendations on Judge Simpson’s replacement. The 31-member committee includes a chairman and ten attorneys from each of the state’s Supreme Court Districts.

Anyone interested in applying for this position, who has not yet applied, or is interested in recommending prospective candidates should contact Colby Lane at 601-576-2038 or Ed Brunini, Jr., the chairman of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee at 601-948-3101. All applications and recommendations should be submitted prior to May 16, 2008.