Finalists named for PH municipal court judge

June 18, 2008 06:56 pm

— By Tommy Mann Jr.
The Orange Leader

PINEHURST — After two months of searching for a new municipal court judge, the list of candidates has been narrowed down to two.
According to Dan Robertson, Pinehurst city manager, a search committee comprised of himself, Lori Pellerin and John Zerko, has whittled down a list of potential candidates for the position to two finalists: Joe Parkhurst and Joy Dubose-Simonton.
“We received six applications for this position, and conducted interviews on Monday,” Robertson said. “Now that we have narrowed down the list of candidates to these two finalists, it’s up to city council to make the decision on the new municipal court judge for Pinehurst.”
Parkhurst has served as Orange County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1 since November 1998 and worked as an educator with the Little Cypress-Mauriceville school district for 22 years prior to assuming the role of Justice of the Peace.
Dubose-Simonton resides in Bridge City and has served her community as an attorney at law for four years.
Robertson said the decision on the new judge is expected to be made during the July 8 city council meeting at City Hall, which is located on Mockingbird Lane in Pinehurst.
City council members will meet with Dubose-Simonton and Parkhurst separately during a closed-door, executive session of the council for the final interview. Robertson said he believes council will make a determination that night.
Derry Dunn, Precinct 2 Orange County Justice of the Peace, has served as the temporary municipal court judge in Pinehurst since late-March after longtime judge Julian Meadows submitted his resignation.

Reach this reporter at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or tmann@orangeleader.com