Danny Cowan was appointed to fill the judicial commissioner vacancy left by the resignation of Harvey Barnes on July 31. Barnes had served since his appointment last September.

At the monthly meeting of the county commission last week, County Mayor Tim Stribling told the assembly that the judicial committee had reviewed the applications still on file from the last time there was a vacancy and recommended Cowan to fill the spot.

“The committee met and pulled out five applications, looked at them and reviewed them, and then contacted them and asked if they were still interested in being considered again. We heard back from all but one. They said they would.” The commissioners voted to approve the appointment.

The county’s has three judicial commissioners include Cowan, Richard Jennings, and Tammy Ashburn.

Judicial commissioners are responsible for the issuance of criminal arrest warrants upon finding probable cause. They are subject to call at all hours of the day and night. Judicial commissioners serve at the pleasure of the county commission and their terms of office can be one year to four years. These three judicial commissioners serve one-year terms.