NATCHEZ —Adams County Supervisors appointed Natchez attorney Hyde Carby of Carby and Carby Friday to serve as interim Southern District Justice Court Judge until a Nov. 7, 2017 election.

Carby’s term will begin in January following the retirement of 25-year Justice Court Judge Charlie Vess. On Monday, Vess announced plans to retire effective Dec. 31.

Carby extended appreciation to supervisors for the appointment.“I appreciate their confidence in me, and I am looking forward to working with everybody during this interim period,” he said.

Vess inserted a complication Friday when he said he was willing to continue to serve until the specially called election.

“If the county had difficulty in appointing someone, or found someone who didn’t mirror my enthusiasm for justice court, I was going to make myself available,” he said. “I think Hyde is a very good choice. He is very well qualified.”

Supervisors Board Attorney Scott Slover said he did not believe Vess could be appointed as the interim judge and the supervisors had already accepted his resignation.

District 5 Supervisor Calvin Butler nominated Carby. Butler said he nominated Carby because the attorney told the board he would not seek the position in November.

Before the matter could be brought to vote, District 4 Supervisor Ricky Gray said many called to express interest in the position, but they also were interested in running for justice court in November.

Gray said he did not nominate a potential applicant because he did not want to see an interim run for justice court. Gray said he hoped Carby was willing to only serve during the interim.

Board President Mike Lazarus said Carby informed him he had no intention of running for the position. But Lazarus said the board could not stop someone from running if they got in and chose to do so.

Lazarus said Angie Brown was appointed as sheriff in 2009 following the death of her husband, Ronny. Lazarus said a stipulation was placed on the appointment that she would not run for sheriff, but she ended up running anyway.

“We just have to trust that Hyde Carby is a man of his word,” Lazarus said.

Gray said Carby’s word is good enough for him and he would not attempt to amend the motion to stipulate Carby could not run for the judgeship.

“If a man don’t live by his word, then there is something wrong about that,” Gray said. “If a man gives us his word, and says he has no intention of running for a position, and turns around and does something totally different, then I have no respect for that.”

Vess said he was happy to see Carby agree to serve only during the interim.

“When you appoint and someone decides to run, it’s like having the incumbent run again,” Vess said. “I didn’t want the board of supervisors to rubber stamp who they want to serve. This is the people’s court.”