Two new judges will fill their roles this month after officially winning their races in November.

Local attorney Steven Curtis will be sworn in as district judge on January 14.

“Judge (William) Hightower will be swearing me in in the main courtroom ( of the Pike County Courthouse) at 10:30 a.m. January 14 and I’ll officially take office at midnight,” Curtis said.

Hightower was Pike County’s first district judge and served 42 years in the role.

“He leaves a void; not just in the county, but in the state,” Curtis said. “I’m interested in making sure the things he has done for district court in Pike County continue. It’s his baby; he’s the only district judge we’ve ever had in Pike County.”

Curtis has been preparing to take over in the role since he secured the spot with a primary win last June.

“I’ve been wrapping up my law practice which is an overwhelming task with an over 20-year practice,” Curtis said. “I went through a week-long training process through judicial college in Montgomery and I have another 2-day training next week that I’ll go to as well. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to serve the people here. I’m anxious to get started and learn the job and hope that I can continue the things that Judge Hightower has done over his long career.”

Enterprise attorney Sonny Reagan will be filling the seat of retiring circuit judge Tom Head on January 14 as well.

“I am very much looking forward to this new chapter,” Reagan said. “I’ve been closing down my law practice and spending a lot of time with Judge Head; he actually appointed me as special circuit judge in mid-December so I’ve actually presided over several cases already as a circuit judge. I also completed the orientation for new judges in Montgomery with the Supreme Court and I’ve also reached out to several judges that I practiced in front of throughout the state and gotten some words of wisdom from them as well. I’m hoping to spend a lot of time in Pike County. I’m looking forward to it.”

Reagan will have a swearing in ceremony on January 10 in Enterprise and he is coordinating a time for his swearing in in Pike County.