NATCHEZ — After 31 years on the bench, the Adams County Court judge announced Wednesday he would not be seeking re-election this fall.

Judge John Hudson, who as county court judge also oversees Adams County’s youth court, said he would not be running for re-election after more than three decades on the bench because he wants to pursue another opportunity.

Hudson said he is not at liberty to discuss the opportunity at this time, but the timing of election qualification — which ends Friday — forced him to announce his decision not to run so the local bar had the opportunity to know and qualify for the position.

As of Wednesday afternoon, two candidates — attorney Scott Pintard and Assistant District Attorney Walt Brown — had qualified. The election is in November.

To qualify to run for county judge, candidates must be at least 26, a practicing attorney for five years and a resident of the state for the five years preceding the election.

Hudson said he will stay on the bench through the end of his term.

“Whoever it is gets elected, I pledge to do whatever I can do to help them in the job and to get to know the people who are here and keep things running,” he said.

Only 19 counties in Mississippi have county courts, which were created by the legislature to reduce the workload of circuit and chancery courts. The county court hears matters of eminent domain, unlawful entry and detainer, partition of personal property and youth court.

The county court judge also hears non-capital felony criminal cases the circuit court transfers.

Hudson became judge in 1983. He had practiced law for eight years prior to taking the bench.

“I enjoy the county court side of it because it gives me the opportunity to exercise my legalese, what I learned in law school, but what drew me to it was the youth court,” he said. “That was my passion, and I have been blessed for it.

“I look forward to every day when I go to work. I enjoy my job and the opportunity to be with and deal with people who are committed to making the lives of others better.”

The judge said the county court judgeship has an additional qualification — a passion to make the lives of youth better.

“If you don’t have that passion, you don’t need to be running for the position,” he said.

Youth Court Prosecutor Vivian Toussaint said the 15 years she has worked with the judge have been an “invaluable experience.”

“He has made me a better lawyer,” Toussaint said. “He is very committed to the youth court, to the youth of the state as well as the youth of the community.”

In addition to the county court, Hudson has worked with state-wide groups and committees to lobby for improvements to the youth court system.

“He is well-respected across the state, and when you go to a conference and they ask, ‘What court do you practice in,’ and I say, ‘Adams County Youth Court,’ they say, ‘Oh, you work for Judge Hudson,’” Toussaint said. “He has earned a good reputation because he has been willing to go to battle for the youth of this state and this community.”

Under Hudson, the youth court grew from a small operation of judge, court reporter, secretary and legal counsel to a courtroom that has been hailed as a model.

Under Hudson, Adams County pioneered the youth drug court program in Mississippi.

“All of the others looked to us for how it was to be put together, and our juvenile drug court was named drug court of the year statewide last year,” Hudson said.

The youth drug court program allows qualified youth offenders to complete a months-long rehabilitation and educational program that clears their records.

Since 1983, the youth court has also worked the Adolescent Offenders Program, the Families First Resource Center and the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, among others, all of which are grant or foundation funded.

“This is not just me, and I am really proud of all those things the people who work with those programs are doing, and thankful for a lot of those people who have been running those organizations for us through the years,” Hudson said.

The juvenile justice center in downtown Natchez — which houses the youth court courtroom, a detention center for youth offenders, offices and a family resource center — was built to meet a federal standards mandate for youth housing during Hudson’s tenure.

“The board of supervisors had the forethought to recognize that putting everything under one roof would greatly enhance what we do, because we were previously located in five downtown buildings,” Hudson said. “We were able to stay ahead of the game on the detention center and make sure we met all of the regulations, so we could be a model.”

The center now houses not only Adams County youth offenders but offenders from other counties as well as other areas that have had to close their facilities.

Hudson said the youth court works because those who work for it and with it make it work.

“No one thing or person can make a youth court work, but we are all committed to initiatives to change behaviors and make a better society,” he said. “Hopefully, whoever comes in will go to higher and greater lengths.”