Debra Blackwell of Natchez, an assistant district attorney in the 6th Circuit Court District, is running for circuit judge in the November elections.
Blackwell will face Holmes Sturgeon, also of Natchez, to succeed Judge Al Johnson, who is retiring after 24 years on the bench.
The 6th District includes Adams, Amite, Franklin and Wilkinson counties. It has two judicial seats; incumbent Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders is unopposed for re-election to the other one.
Blackwell said that as assistant DA for 16 years, she has handled more than 2,000 criminal cases.
“As judge, I will continue to enforce our laws and see that criminals know that there are consequences for their actions in Southwest Mississippi,” she said.
Blackwell began her law career as a legal secretary upon graduating high school. She worked full-time and took college classes at night. She went to law school at age 31 and spent 10 years in private practice before joining the district attorney’s office.
“I believe there are three characteristics needed to make a good judge: knowledge of the law, hard work and fair, rational decisions,” Blackwell said. “I certainly know the law after having practiced law since 1991 and having practiced exclusively in circuit court for the past 16 years. I have an excellent work ethic that began when I put myself through college while working full-time.”
