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Gov. Tate Reeves on Friday appointed an interim steward to lead the Hinds County District Attorney’s office until a Nov. 3 special election can fill the vacancy left by the resignation of District Attorney Jody Owens, who pleaded guilty last week to federal conspiracy charges.
Brad McCullouch, a Madison County resident, has worked as an assistant district attorney in Hinds County since 2023. Owens pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges and resigned from office June 29.
The governor announced on social media that he had appointed McCullouch, saying he chose an internal candidate to minimize any disruptions.
“Everyone knows the criminal justice system in Hinds County is far from perfect, but I am convinced the rank-and-file assistant district attorneys who serve Hinds County do an admirable job prosecuting criminals,” Reeves wrote on Facebook.
Under state law, the governor must call an election to fill a vacancy in the office of a district attorney.
Hours before Reeves made the announcement, McCullouch appeared before a federal judge for a hearing on conditions at the Hinds County Detention Center in Raymond, which is already over capacity.
Problems at the jail are among an array of challenges McCullouch will now face as the interim district attorney.
McCullouch said the office would review if people arrested for nonviolent offenses but who have not been indicted could be released. He said that of the 219 unindicted people in Raymond, over 50 are being held on nonviolent offenses.
“There’s still fertile ground” for reducing jail overcrowding, he said.
McCullouch is the first white man to lead the district attorney’s office since Ed Peters retired in 2001. Hinds County is majority Black.
