The Eighth District Circuit Court has a new judge after Union resident, Brian Burns was sworn in as Circuit Court Judge Friday at the Newton County Courthouse.
Burns, who was appointed December 30 by Gov. Phil Bryant, had previously worked with the Eighth District Circuit Court as a clerk.
Jason Mangum, Decatur municipal judge, said Burns is joining one of the most respected courts in the state. The Eight Circuit court has a reputation among attorneys for being swift and professional in handling cases, and Burns will contribute to that, he said.
“Attorneys are always amazed and how quickly they come to trial,” he said. “You don’t have to ask for a trial here. You get one.”
Judge Mark Duncan, who also serves in the Eighth District court, said he has worked with Burns for years, and has been golfing with him several times. Duncan said they both share a common vision for what the Eight District court should look like.
“Brian and I share a few goals about our court system,” he said. “What we want to do is make the Eighth Circuit Court District the best, most efficient, most respected court district in the state of Mississippi.”
Duncan said he and Burns want everyone who walks in the door to be confident they will be treated fairly, no matter what.
Burns said he was honored Gov. Bryant chose him to serve on the court and was humbled by the crowd that came to see him sworn in.
“The most precious thing in life is time,” he said. “We can’t buy any more of it. We can’t trade for it. And each of you took time out of your day to be here, and that is something I’ll never forget.”
In a separate ceremony December 31, Newton County Chancery Judge Robert Logan swore in the county officials elected in the November 5 general election.
Supervisors Charles Moulds, Charles Godwin, Joe Alexander, Kenneth Harris and Jackie Johnson, Chancery Clerk George Hayes, Circuit Clerk Mike Butler, Sheriff Joedy Pennington, Constables Mark Spence and Donny Collins, Tax Assessor/Collector May Bender, Justice Court Judges Scott Round and Justin Chaney, County Attorney Doug Smith and Coroner Danny Shoemaker took oath of office in the courtroom at the Newton County Courthouse.
Logan, who is wrapping up his first term as Chancery Judge, said he has great confidence in the county officials’ ability to maintain and grow Newton County
“It was the late President Ronald Regan that famously said, ‘Government is not the solution to the problem. Government is the problem,’” Logan said. “As much as I admire President Reagan, I’ll have to disagree with him, especially with regard to our local government. We have people who have been elected to serve, who have a heart to serve, and those folks who you have elected will record your deeds and your marriage certificates, they’ll arrest and prosecute people who break the law, and they’ll even pick up your garbage.”
Logan said Newton County residents should be thankful for the men and women who chose to run for office, both those that won and those that lost. By entering the race, he said, they let voters chose who they wanted to represent them.
“They gave us a choice,” he said, “And that’s what democracy is all about.”
For more photos and video from the swearing in ceremonies, visit www.newtoncountyappeal.com
