Governor Bryant has appointed a new District Attorney on the Mississippi Coast.
Angel Myers McIlrath has been appointed as the new DA of the 19th Circuit Court District, which encompasses Jackson, George, and Greene counties. She replaces Tony Lawrence who was elected as Judge in District 5, Place 1, on the Mississippi Court of Appeals.
Myers McIlrath’s appointment will become official in January of 2019 when Lawrence assumes his position on the Mississippi Court of Appeals.
“Angel has loyally served the people of the 19th Circuit Court District for over a decade, and I am pleased she has accepted this appointment as District Attorney,” Gov. Bryant said. “Her vast experience as a prosecutor and in private practice make her well-qualified, and I know she will continue the exceptional work in her new role.”
Myers McIlrath has served as an Assistant District Attorney in the 19th Circuit Court District since 2006, most recently overseeing child abuse cases where she works in conjunction with law enforcement officers and other prosecutors regularly. She also frequently holds community education discussions on protecting children.
“I am honored and humbled by the trust that Governor Bryant has placed in me to do the important work of the District Attorney,” said Myers McIlrath. “I remain committed, as I have been for over 12 years, to protecting our children in and out of the courtroom, protecting the rights and dignity of crime victims, and to working hard every day to make our community safer. It is my privilege to serve the citizens of Jackson, George, and Greene counties.”
As Lawrence departs for his new role, he is confident that Myers McIlrath is the right person to take the reins.
“For fifteen years the staff of the District Attorney’s Office and I have worked to protect children, hold drug dealers and gang members accountable for their criminal acts, and ensure that victims have equal rights in the courtroom,” said Lawrence. “It is a mission that we have worked for and believed in every day I have had the honor of serving as District Attorney. Angel Myers McIlrath has worked with me for twelve of those fifteen years and believes in that mission as well. I am proud that I have the good fortune to transfer the important duties in this office to such a capable person like Angel.”
Myers McIlrath holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Juris Doctorate from the Mississippi College School of Law.
