Hinds County DA special election 2026 in MS. Meet the five candidatesD.A.s work closely with law enforcement to prosecute crimes ranging from driving under the influence (DUIs) to domestic violence, drug offenses, assaults, homicides, and white-collar crimes.When a crime occurs, and an arrest is made, law enforcement refers the case to the district attorney’s office. The D.A. then reviews the evidence to decide whether to pursue charges.If the D.A. determines there is enough evidence to justify criminal charges, they have two options:Call a grand jury and present the case details and evidence to the jury. The grand jury then votes on whether to issue an indictment. The indictment allows the D.A. to proceed with formal charges.Directly file a criminal complaint and charges based on the D.A.’s assessment without a grand jury indictment.Once charges are filed through either process, the defendant is arraigned in court and enters a plea. If they plead not guilty, a trial date is set. If the defendant pleads guilty, the case settles.If formal charges are made, most defendants hire a criminal defense attorney to provide them with legal assistance.The D.A. also manages a team of assistant district attorneys.We would love to cover every election in the state at the local level - city and county - with vote411.org but are limited by our volunteer resources. Please check local sources. We do cover state-wide and state level elections as well as federal elections.Report any inaccuracies in vote411.org to lwvmississippi@gmail.com
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Qualifications & Education
Bachelor of Science (Industrial Technology); Masters Degree in Secondary Education with emphasis in Industrial Technology - both degrees are from Alcorn State University; Juris Doctor - University of Mississippi School of Law; Qualifications - I served as a prosecutor with the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office (2004–2007) and Leflore County District Attorney’s Office (2008). From 2009–2019, I served with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, including as Deputy Director of Public Integrity and Director of the Vulnerable Persons Division. I have also practiced criminal defense through the Law Office of Marvin L. Sanders and served as Washington County Assistant Public Defender (2020–2026) and Sunflower County Public Defender (2026). I have also been appointed Special Prosecutor in Holmes County.
Links - Social Media, Other
facebook.com/MarvinSandersForDA
I have prosecuted hundreds of felony cases across Mississippi, including right here in Hinds County. From home repair fraud to murder, every case was the most important and mattered because behind every case was a victim who trusted me to pursue justice.
As Director of the Vulnerable Persons Division, I prosecuted some of the most difficult cases - sexual assaults involving children, particularly young girls. These cases were often difficult to prove, but difficult did not mean undeserving of justice. I tried those cases. Some I won. Some I lost. But I never measured justice solely by a win-loss record.
For me, justice meant doing the work, following the evidence, and making sure victims had an opportunity to be heard. No victim should feel shut out of the justice system simply because the case is difficult.
Every case matters because every person matters.
Hinds County deserves leadership grounded in experience, sound judgment, and the temperament to build a strong team and keep cases moving toward resolution. An effective District Attorney must be able to do two things well: lead people and move cases from review to resolution. Neither skill replaces the other.
My experience has prepared me for both, and I am the only candidate with this breadth of experience. At the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, I served as Deputy Director of the Public Integrity Division and Director of the Vulnerable Persons Division. I supervised and trained attorneys, investigators, and interns while managing the administrative responsibilities of these felony prosecutorial divisions. I also prosecuted hundreds of felony cases across Mississippi and worked alongside numerous District Attorney Offices while performing the administrative and training tasks. I am the only candidate in this race who brings that breadth of felony prosecutorial experience.
Starting Day One, I would implement three strategies to address the criminal case backlog. First, I would create a task force of seasoned prosecutors to review stagnant cases, identify what is preventing them from moving forward, and determine the appropriate next steps. Second, I would hold twice-yearly trainings with law enforcement to strengthen case preparation and ensure officers and prosecutors remain aligned as laws change and new officers join the force. Third, I would empower every Assistant District Attorney to manage and understand their cases from initial review through final resolution, with accountability for their individual caseloads. Addressing the backlog requires a different approach. My experience working with District Attorney offices across Mississippi has exposed me to different systems and strategies, giving me a broader perspective on how to move cases efficiently and responsibly.
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