NATCHEZ — Adams County residents considering a run for justice court judge in the southern district have some time before they have to make a decision.

The qualifying deadline is Sept. 8 for the special election to fill the seat vacated by retired judge Charlie Vess.

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s elections calendar indicates candidates for vacated county positions have until 60 days before the special election to qualify. The special Election Day for county vacancies is set for Nov. 7 this year.

Board of Supervisors President Mike Lazarus said his office already has received phone calls from residents interested in qualifying for the election. Lazarus said Chancery Clerk Brandi Lewis called the Secretary of State’s office to confirm the deadline.

Vess retired on Dec. 31 because of health reasons and a pending complaint against him by the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance. The county has appointed Natchez lawyer Hyde Carby to be the interim justice court judge until the election.

The qualifying deadline for the special election of the District 5 election commissioner will also be Sept. 8. The election will also be on Nov. 7 after no one qualified for the election in 2016.