The Board Attorney of Forrest County, Mississippi is David B. Miller

With the complexity of today's county governement, the board attorney is a critical appointment for the board of supervisors.  It is essential that the board attorney provide sound legal advice to the board of supervisors in all matters concerning the county and county operations.  It is also critical for the board of supervisors to follow the advice given by the board attorney.  Since a wide variety of legal issues surround the normal activity of county government, the board attorney keeps the board of supervisors within the confines of the law when the board makes decisions.

Section 19-3-47 of the Code authorizes the board of supervisors to employ counsel.  The board attorney shall represent the board of supervisors in all civil cases in which the county has interest.  This includes eminent domain proceedings, the examination and certification of title to property the county may be acquiring, and in any criminal suit against a county officer for malfeasance, where the county may be financially liable.  The board of supervisors also has the authority to employ a firm of attorneys to represent it as its regular attorney.  However, the board may not employ an attorney and firm of attorneys at the same time as the regular attorney for the board.  The board attorney may be removed from office by a majority vote by the board of supervisors.

The board attorney's duties consist of a wide range of activities.  Attending meetings of the board of supervisors; drafting minutes; answering legal inquiries from board members, other county officials, and citizens; researching land records; drafting board orders; and obtaining Attorney General's opinions are just a few of the basic duties of the board attorney.  Others duties that do not occur on a daily basis include the acquisition of road and bridge right of ways, voting rights submissions, bond work, and an array of litigation.