Minutes after turning over his position to incoming Mayor Todd Kana, former Magnolia Mayor Jimmy Thornton was named municipal judge.

After an executive session that lasted more than an hour, the city council voted unanimously to name Thornton judge and Thomas “Tody” Dupont alternate judge.

“I’m going to make our city and city council proud of our court,” Thornton said. “It’s the job of the presiding judge to take care of the court and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Thornton had been the presiding judge for the past month and a half since Judge John Purvis was put on administrative leave following a court audit.

Thornton said his experience in law enforcement is what qualifies him to be a judge. He spent 15 years with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and retired as a Captain.

The former mayor will spend around two full days a month in court as judge and any other time he is needed.

“Jimmy expressed a desire to be judge and I told him I’d take it under consideration,” Council member Patsy Williams said. “There were several things that led me to that decision. Jimmy understands the budget and the problems with the court. He understands how fractured the court system is right now and he is eager to repair it and he is also eager to gain the money that should be in our court fund in the court system.”

She added that Dupont has been mentoring Thornton in the ways of the court.

“I felt like because of his history as mayor and the interacting he’s had with the city, his heart is right there and he knows exactly what is needed,” Williams said.

Mayor Todd Kana said Thornton’s salary will be at least half of what previous judge Purvis made and that he won’t be in charge of the everyday functioning of the court, just responsible for holding court.

Councilman Jody Sanders said he felt Thornton being judge could prove a cost-saving measure.

“We’re in a position where we’re having to be as thrifty as we can at this time,” said Sanders. “Jimmy indicated that he wanted to do this and would come up with all the necessary education he would have to do without hardly costing the city anything and we felt it was all right to give him a shot at this.”

Sanders added that the council will also conduct an evaluation in six months on Thornton’s position and will “see what happens.”

“I feel like Jimmy is a educated man, he’s a smart man. I feel like he will be able to do the job,” Sanders said.

Dupont, a practicing attorney and Magnolia resident, will fill in for Thornton if he is ever unable to attend court. He said he approached the city more than two years ago inquiring about working for them.

“It’s been a two and a half year wait,” Dupont said. “I’m very happy to accept the responsibility of alternate judge.”

Dupont was the presiding judge for Jersey Village for 15 years and before that, the city’s chief prosecutor for four years.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed