Council approves Barker's nominations for city positions

HATTIESBURG, MS. - Parts of this article is from the city of Hattiesburg.

City Council unanimously approved Mayor Barker's recent nominations for the city of Hattiesburg's Municipal Court positions Tuesday.

Mayor Toby Barker announced his nominations for the City of Hattiesburg’s Municipal Court, including Wes Curry as municipal court judge; Phillip McSwain, Jr. as municipal court clerk; Shakita Taylor as public defender; and Sally O’Flynn as city prosecutor.

“From day one, our administration’s vision has included a municipal court where people are empowered to make better decisions – not just a mechanism for generating revenue,” said Barker.

“Under the leadership of Wes Curry as judge, Phillip McSwain as clerk, Sally O’Flynn as prosecutor, Shakita Taylor as public defender, and our other court appointments, Hattiesburg’s court will make significant strides in efficiency, innovation, and customer service.”

Since 2011 Curry has served as the justice court judge for Forrest County District One. Prior to, he practiced law in Forrest County, routinely dealing with issues present in the justice court system. His background also includes serving with the Mississippi Supreme Court and working as a clerk for the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

McSwain has a vast amount of office and clerical experience, including his time spent with the Forrest County Justice Court system where he served as deputy clerk. There, he assisted the judge with the implementation and enforcement of all policies and managed the day-to-day operations of the court.

Both Taylor and O’Flynn are up for being reappointed to the positions they currently hold.

Additionally, Barker is nominating Brian Bledsoe as municipal court judge post II, Carol Jones as a post III municipal court judge pro tem, Anna Rush as assistant city prosecutor, Michael Shemper as prosecutor pro tem, and Benjamin Thornton as assistant public defender.

Jones, Shemper, and Thornton are up for being reappointed to the positions they currently hold.

New appointments will begin October 1.