HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – Damon Stevenson was sworn in as a new Hinds County Circuit judge on September 5, 2025.

“I want young people to walk in my courtroom, and I want to give them an opportunity to turn their life around and be productive, and if they cannot turn their life around, I want them to understand that nobody has a license to terrorize this community. And so, I want to do my part to make Hinds County safe for the citizens and the residents,” Stevenson said during the ceremony.

Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) appointed Stevenson to the newly created judicial position. During the 2025 Legislative Session, the Mississippi Legislature created a fifth circuit judgeship for Hinds County. The appointed term for the new judgeship began September 1 and extends through January 4, 2027. An election will be held in November 2026.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves administered the oath of office to Stevenson.