Governor Reeves appoints McCullouch as Hinds County District Attorney

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Governor Tate Reeves has announced the appointment of Brad McCullouch to serve as District Attorney for the Seventh Circuit Court District, which covers Hinds County. The appointment fills a vacancy created by the resignation of former District Attorney Jody Owens upon his guilty plea in federal court on June 29, 2026.

Governor Reeves also called a special election to be held on November 3, 2026. The qualifying deadline for candidates is August 20, 2026. The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the term.

“Everyone knows the criminal justice system in Hinds County is far from perfect, but I am convinced the rank-and-file assistant district attorneys who serve Hinds County do an admirable job prosecuting criminals,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “To maintain continuity, to ensure that those prosecutions continue in a timely manner, and after many conversations with members from the community over the last 10 days, I believe the best course of action is to limit disruption in the office’s operations. Since 2023, Brad has served in the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney and more recently as the first assistant district attorney. Also, on July 1, Senior Circuit Judge Winston Kidd temporarily appointed Brad to lead the office during the transition. The majority of his legal career has been devoted to prosecuting criminals, including as a special assistant attorney general. That vast experience makes him the right person for this appointment. I thank him for stepping up to serve until a new district attorney is elected and takes office.”

McCullouch has practiced law for more than 20 years and currently serves as first assistant district attorney for the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office. He rejoined the office as an assistant district attorney in 2023 after serving as director of commercial aviation at Hinds Community College for five years. He has previous experience as a special assistant attorney general for the state of Mississippi. McCullouch also served as an assistant district attorney in Texas and Mississippi’s Fourth Circuit Court District.

McCullouch earned a J.D. at the Mississippi College School of Law and B.A. from Mississippi College.