Governor Barbour appointed Malcolm Harrison Circuit Court Judge for Hinds County today to fill the term of Judge Bobby DeLaughter. Harrison is currently the County Attorney for Hinds County. Here is Harrison’s bio:

Hinds County Attorney, S. Malcolm O. Harrison is a native of Jackson, Mississippi and graduated with honors from Jackson State University in 1991. Attorney Harrison attended Cumberland School of Law, Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama graduating in 1994 with his Juris Doctor degree. Attorney Harrison was admitted to the Mississippi Bar, April of 1995. Attorney Harrison is licensed to practice law in all Courts in the State of Mississippi, including the Supreme Court of Mississippi as well as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana.

Attorney Harrison is a member of several legal associations including, the American Bar Association, Mississippi Bar Association, Magnolia Bar Association, Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, and American Trial Lawyers Association.

Attorney Harrison is involved and holds many offices in civic organizations, including Leadership Jackson; City of Jackson, Mayor’s Youth Initiative, NAACP; Salvation Army; Trustee Board Member, Farish Street Missionary Baptist Church; 7th District Scholarship Chairman; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; T.C. Almore Lodge #242 F&AM; and Jackson State University, National Alumni Association.

On November 2,1999, Attorney Harrison was elected County Attorney for Hinds County Attorney for Hinds County, Mississippi. Attorney Harrison was the first African American elected County Attorney for Hinds County, Mississippi. Attorney Harrison also serves as the City Prosecuting Attorney for Bolton, Mississippi.

Attorney Harrison is married to the former Tammiko Walker and they have two sons, Khari and Kiland.

You can read my prior posts speculating about Harrison getting this seat here. I view this as a smart appointment by Barbour, who appears to be positioning himself for a possible presidential bid. He recently came under criticism for not appointing African-American judges, which I discussed here. Look for Barbour to appoint more black judges over the next couple of years in order to repair his image on this issue.

Harrison will probably have opposition in the next election, but he stands a good chance to retain the seat if he campaigns hard.