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NATCHEZ — Adams County Judge Walt Brown swore in Natchez attorney Terrence Hunter as the city’s new municipal judge on Thursday afternoon on the steps of City Hall.

Hunter’s wife, Leah, held the Bible and their 17-month-old daughter, Harlowe, as Hunter took his oath.

Hunter, a Natchez native, graduated from Trinity Episcopal Day School and earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Tougaloo. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2020.

He returned to Natchez and opened his solo legal practice in 2022.

Recently, Leah Hunter accepted the job of executive director of the Downtown Natchez Alliance.

Hunter was selected from among three candidates for the judgeship, which became open when Christina Daugherty joined the office of Sixth Circuit District Attorney Tim Cotton as an assistant district attorney. The other candidates were Timothy Blalock and Pierce Beach.

At the time of her resignation, Daugherty called that her dream job.

“I have worked as a public defender since I moved back to Natchez and have been involved in all the courts. From that standpoint, I’ve gotten to see Judge Daugherty and Judge Dale work, and when this opportunity came up, it was a natural draw for me,” Hunter said.

Hunter’s title will be interim city judge until the city has an opportunity to call a special election to replace Daugherty permanently. A special election is necessary because almost three years remain on Daugherty’s term.

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said no date has been set for that special election.