Judge Guirola Appoints John Dowdy Interim U.S. Attorney for Southern District
The Clarion-Ledger reported Wednesday that Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dowdy has been appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. Dowdy replace Don Burkhalter, who retired this month and was also serving on an interim basis.
Seeing as how the Obama administration has forgotten about U.S. Attorneys in Mississippi, the appointment was made by Chief U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr.
Dowdy is a career prosecutor who has been with the U.S. Attorney's office since the early 1990's. The Clarion-Ledger article says 1988, but Dowdy was a 1983 graduate of Gulfport High School, which would have put him in law school in 1988. I believe that Dowdy worked in the U.S. Attorney's office during law school, but that would have been in a non-attorney capacity. [Correction: Dowdy began working in the office during law school and tried several cases while still in law school under a limited practices act].
Dowdy is from Gulfport and lived next door to, ahem, and near a bunch of other characters on Harrison Ave. in Gulfport. Dowdy is the nephew of prominent Democrat Wayne Dowdy. Dowdy is also first cousins with Harrison County Assistant D.A. Joel Smith, who is thought to be a leading candidate to replace the retiring Cono Caranna.
Dowdy will presumably hold the U.S. Attorney position until President Obama wakes up and makes a permanent appointment. No word on if or when that will happen.
You Bayou View boys have done alright, in spite of having the handicap of not growing up in the Second Street neighborhood.