NATCHEZ — Adams County Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess announced Monday plans to retire effective Dec. 31.

Vess told Adams County Supervisors at a specially called meeting that due to health reasons as well as other matters — including trouble with the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance — he would retire before the end of his term, which runs through 2019.

“I really have loved the job,” Vess said. “For quite a while, for lack of a better term, I have been the lead dog down there.

“But you just know when it is time to retire.”

Adams County Board of Supervisors President Mike Lazarus said now that the county has accepted Vess’ retirement, the board would look to appoint an interim justice court judge. Lazarus said an appointment could hopefully be made by the board’s Jan. 3 meeting.

Lazarus said the county needs to have an election for the District 5 election commissioner seat for which no one qualified, and adding a justice court judge race should be easy.

Lazarus asked other supervisors to consider appointees for the position.

While a justice court judge does not need a law degree to serve, Lazarus said at least in the interim, he thinks the transition would be smoother if the appointee was an attorney.

The judge would have to live in the southern district, which includes District 1, District 2 and parts of Districts 3 and 5.

Judge Patricia Dunmore serves in the northern district seat.

Lazarus said the supervisors would consider appointing someone who could run for the position during the special election as well as someone who would not run again.

Lazarus said he would also like Sheriff Travis Patten to have input on the appointee.

Patten said even if the board did not consult him, he urged them to consider the impact it will have on his office.

“I want you guys to consider how cases have been handled and presented,” Patten said. “It is very integral to how we do business. A lot of stuff can be made or broken in justice court.”

Vess said though the judge position was a job in which he could potentially always be on the clock — even at 2 a.m. — he would most miss working with the sheriff. He said he had served with five sheriffs and had praise for Patten.

But Vess said he does have medical concerns and he also mentioned a recent reprimand from the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance as a reason he wants to retire.

Vess said he exercised what the watchdog agency called improper judicial demeanor in harshly reprimanding a man in court.

The Mississippi Supreme Court intends to reprimand him for the action, Vess said, but has yet to do so for the February incident.

“I’m still waiting, still hearing cases,” Vess said. “I can’t make the Supreme Court move faster.”

Vess said he does not consider the move a resignation.

“This is something I’ve earned,” he said. “And who knows, after I’ve worked for a year or so in the private sector, I might decide to come back and seek another elected office.”