Barton calls for firing squad executions, repeal of “DEI” Judicial District in 2026 Legislative Agenda

• District Attorney Matthew Barton proposes making the firing squad Mississippi’s primary method of execution to bypass lethal injection delays and costs.
• The agenda includes a push to repeal a “majority-minority” judicial sub-district in DeSoto County, which Barton labels a “DEI” carveout.
• Additional priorities focus on establishing a local law enforcement training academy, a metro crime lab, and stricter penalties for sex offenders.

HERNANDO, Miss. – DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton has unveiled an aggressive slate of legislative priorities for the 2026 session, headlined by controversial proposals to overhaul Mississippi’s death penalty protocols and redraw judicial districts in DeSoto County.

Barton, emphasizing a need to “stay ahead” of adapting criminal elements, outlined five key initiatives aimed at increasing judicial efficiency, reducing taxpayer costs, and strengthening public safety infrastructure.

“Criminals are constantly adapting, and if Mississippi wants to stay ahead of them, we must adapt too,” Barton said in a statement. “That is why I am proposing priorities again this year that will save Mississippians millions of dollars, toughen penalties for criminals, and allow law enforcement to operate more efficiently.”

Repealing the “DEI” Judicial Sub-District

A central pillar of Barton’s agenda is the repeal of a specific judicial sub-district created under HB 1544 during the previous legislative redistricting. The district, which covers Horn Lake and a portion of Southaven, was established as a “majority-minority” district—a standard practice in voting rights law intended to ensure minority representation. However, Barton criticized the carveout as a “DEI judicial sub-district” that disenfranchises the wider county.

Barton argues that because circuit judges wield countywide authority, they should be elected by the entire county populace rather than a specific sub-section.

“Doing this not only deprives a plurality of voters in DeSoto County of true representation, it strips the vast majority of our citizens of their ability to select a judge who will wield countywide power,” Barton stated. He cited public outcry over the Lindsey Whiteside case as evidence that residents want broader accountability for judges handling violent crime cases.

Barton expressed confidence that the Mississippi Republican Party would support redrawing the position as an at-large, countywide seat.

Firing Squad as Primary Execution Method

Perhaps the most striking proposal is the move to designate death by firing squad as Mississippi’s primary method of execution. Currently, lethal injection is the standard, though the state permits a firing squad if other methods are held unconstitutional or unavailable.

Barton’s proposal would flip this hierarchy, making the firing squad the default and retaining lethal injection only as a backup. The District Attorney argues this shift would bypass the frequent legal hurdles, drug shortages, and procedural delays associated with lethal injection, ensuring sentences are carried out more swiftly and cost-effectively.

Infrastructure: Crime Lab and Training Academy

To address logistical bottlenecks in Northwest Mississippi, Barton is calling for the establishment of two major facilities within DeSoto County:

1. Law Enforcement Training Academy: A dedicated local academy intended to boost recruitment and lower training costs for municipalities in the state’s third-largest county.
2. Metro DeSoto Crime Lab: A cost-sharing proposal between the county and local cities to fund a regional crime lab. This aims to reduce significant evidence backlogs that currently risk allowing cases to expire under the statute of limitations.

Sex Offender Registration Act Amendment

Barton is also seeking to revive a bill that died in committee last year regarding the Sex Offender Registration Act. The amendment proposes increasing the maximum punishment for bond revocation by exactly one day—raising it to five years and one day.

While seemingly minor, this legal adjustment would provide prosecutors with greater leverage to revoke bonds and keep registered sex offenders in custody if they violate the terms of their release.