Purdie takes over as Judge a month sooner

By Randy Bell

City Attorney Will Purdie has taken on new duties in Clinton sooner than originally planned. He’s become the City’s full-time Municipal Court Judge as of May 1.

“I’m really excited,” Purdie said. “It’s another opportunity to serve the citizens, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Purdie will continue his role as City Attorney. He says he’s confident in his ability to handle the two jobs.

“It’s not something I would jump into, if I was concerned about it.”

He says since he already has an office at City Hall, he’ll be able to easily fuse those responsibilities. Purdie had been serving as Municipal Judge Pro Tem since February, handling cases on a part-time basis.

Municipal Judge Steven Boone stepped down at the end of April to prepare for a church mission trip to Brazil. He and his wife Brandie will spend three years working as unpaid volunteers, training young missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They sold their home in Clinton but plan to return once the mission trip is completed, and his old job as Municipal Judge will be waiting for him.

“That’s the intent behind this move,” Purdie said, “to allow him to come back, should he decide, to after those three years.”

And that’s exactly what Boone plans to do.

“I want to finish what I’ve started,” Boone says.

Originally, Boone planned to stay on as judge through May, but decided instead to spend the month visiting family and taking a vacation. In June, he and his wife will head to Provo, Utah, for training and will report to Brazil on July 1.

Boone says he has the “utmost confidence” in his temporary replacement. He says he and Purdie have been alternating cases for the last few months and says he’s leaving the Municipal Court in capable hands.