A southwest Mississippi lawyer is winning an eight-year term on Mississippi’s Court of Appeals in a runoff.
Deborah McDonald of Fayette on Tuesday defeated Greenville prosecutor Eric Charles Hawkins in the court’s 2nd District. It stretches through 24 counties running south from Tunica to Jefferson, including parts of western Attala County.
McDonald emphasized her experience as a municipal court judge and lawyer for government agencies. She won 48 percent of the vote on Nov. 6, less than 2,400 votes short of a majority in a three-way nonpartisan race.
She replaces incumbent Tyree Irving, who is retiring after 20 years on the 10-member court.
Hawkins has been Washington County and Greenville city prosecutor.
McDonald raised $44,000 before the general election, but hadn’t filed a runoff update as of Monday. Hawkins raised $3,300. (AP)