OPINION: Hinds County needs a district attorney who will do the job

By Joshua Martin

JA Engagement Editor

Certain elections feel larger than the names printed on the ballot. The upcoming Hinds County District Attorney’s race is one of those elections. 

On Nov. 3rd, voters will choose the next person leading one of the most important offices in Hinds County. Five candidates are seeking the position following the resignation of former District Attorney Jody Owens. In June 2026, Owens pled guilty to a federal conspiracy charge connected to a public corruption investigation. That reality alone should tell us something about the seriousness of this election. Hinds County does not simply need another campaign. It needs a reset.

Over the years, we have heard plenty of words associated with what we expect from our elected officials. Integrity, Morality, Transparency, Accountability and Leadership. Those words matter. They should matter. But when I think about the next Hinds County District Attorney, I keep coming back to something much simpler.

Can this person do the job?

Not just talk about doing the job. Not just campaign about doing the job. Not just tell voters what they want to hear. Can they actually do it? Because Hinds County needs a district attorney who is competent. That may not be the most exciting campaign slogan but it might be one of the most important.

The district attorney’s office is not a ceremonial position. It is an office dealing with victims, defendants, families, police officers, attorneys, judges and some of the most difficult circumstances facing our community. The person sitting at the top must make difficult decisions every day. And those decisions have consequences.

Jackson has experienced turmoil for years, particularly when it comes to criminal justice. We have debated violent crime, court backlogs, public safety, incarceration, policing and whether our justice system is actually working for the people it is supposed to serve. Those conversations are not going away simply because we elect a new district attorney. If anything, the next district attorney will inherit a tremendous amount of responsibility.

Recent reporting has also highlighted concerns about the management and recordkeeping of the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office. A state audit was requested after questions arose about the office’s financial records. Reportedly, the state auditor had not recorded an audit of the office since in or before 2013. That should concern everybody.

This November’s election is not about finding someone who can give the best speech. It is about finding someone understanding that public office is a public trust. This requires voters to ask better questions.

Who has the experience? Who understands the criminal justice system from the inside out? Who has demonstrated sound judgment? Who understands that being a prosecutor is not simply about getting convictions? Who can distinguish between the person who made a mistake and the person who poses a genuine danger to the community? And most importantly, who can make those decisions without being influenced by politics, money, friendships or personal interests? Those questions matter.

We need a district attorney who is thoughtful. Someone who understands that justice is not always black and white. Someone who can be firm when it is necessary and recognize when compassion is appropriate. We need someone who doesn’t let the small things slide – that doesn’t mean criminalizing every mistake or filling our jails simply to make the public feel like something is being done. It means recognizing small compromises can eventually become much larger problems.

A prosecutor who is willing to overlook unethical behavior because it is politically convenient is dangerous. A prosecutor who is willing to compromise their principles because someone has money, influence or a relationship with them is dangerous. And a prosecutor who lacks the discernment to understand the difference between justice and revenge is equally dangerous. The people of Hinds County deserve better than that.

We deserve someone who can walk into that office understanding the position belongs to the people, not to the individual who holds it. 

We need someone who can demonstrate it. We need experience. We need competence. We need discernment. We need someone who cares about the community enough to understand that every case represents real people. And we need someone who understands that public safety and fairness are not opposing ideas – they can, and should, exist together.

The next Hinds County District Attorney has an opportunity to restore confidence in an office that desperately needs it. The candidates have different backgrounds and different experiences, but the responsibility awaiting the winner will be the same. Do the job. Do it well. Do it fairly. Do it without fear. Do it without being bought. And do it with the understanding that Hinds County residents are depending on you.