Smith

Meridian attorney Robert “Bo” Bailey beat out Robert Compton, former Lauderdale County prosecutor, for a judge’s seat on the 10th Circuit Court, replacing retiring Lester Williamson Jr. 

Bailey will work alongside Charles Wright, who ran unopposed for his seat.

In Wayne County, Bailey won 62 percent. Bailey also won over voters in Kemper County, where he serves as the attorney for the county board of supervisors, with 67 percent of the vote. 

Voters in Clarke County and Lauderdale County had closer election margins, with Bailey winning 54 percent of Clarke County voters and 51 percent of Lauderdale County voters. 

Across the four counties, Bailey won 54 percent of the vote, or 20,001 votes out of 36,518.

Bailey follows in the steps of his father, Robert W. Bailey, who retired in June of 2015 after more than 27 years on the bench. 

“I can remember going to the courthouse as a kid and seeing him in the robe thinking, ‘I want to do that someday,’ “ Bailey said. “It’s great to be able to do that. My dad’s just a small part of why I wanted to be a judge but obviously there’s some sentimental value.”

Bailey called the time between 7 p.m., when polls closed, and 10 p.m., when final results came in, “the longest three hours of my life. But it was made easier by my friends and family.”

“My family is the reason that we’re here,” Bailey said. “It’s been a hard fought race and I appreciate the race that Mr. Compton ran. Now it’s time to get back to work.”

In the 12th Chancery Court, local attorney Charlie Smith won over Frances Smith Stephenson, attracting 66 percent of voters in Lauderdale and 62 percent of voters in Clarke County. Out of 26,753 total votes cast Smith won 17,567, or 66 percent. 

Smith, a former youth prosecutor, previously said he enjoyed overseeing adoptions and hoped to follow in the footsteps of retiring Chancery Judge Jerry Mason. Larry Primeaux had no opposition for re-election to the Chancery Court. 

“It’s not an easy job, both Judge Mason and and Primeaux work hard and that’s part of it,” Smith said, extending his gratitude to his family and volunteers. “It’s just a great thing. It’s something I’ve been aspiring to for many years.”