Three days have come and gone since President George Bushnominated Dunn Lampton as the new United States Attorney for theSouthern District of Mississippi, yet the news has still not sunkin for Lampton.

“I’m honored,” Lampton said Monday morning. “It’s a wonderfulopportunity.”

The position may encompass a larger area than the 14th Districtof Lincoln, Pike and Walthall Counties where he has served asdistrict attorney since 1980, but Lampton says he will devotehimself just as much in all the other counties in the southerndistrict.

“I’m going to work real hard to justify the faith that Sen.(Thad) Cochran, Sen. (Trent) Lott and President (George) Bush haveput in me,” Lampton said.

Lampton, who was recommended to Bush by Cochran and Lott, willwork between an office in Jackson and one in Biloxi.

He will represent the United States in all criminal and civilmatters in the southern district.

Lampton, a graduate of University of Mississippi and theUniversity of Mississippi School of Law, is excited about theopportunity to handle civil cases for the first time.

“It will certainly be interesting to me since I have workedstrictly in criminal,” he commented.

He believes his previous experience will allow him to adapt toany situation he may face as a United States attorney.

“I hope the close relationships I have with local lawenforcement will help me go a long way,” he said, mentioningLincoln County Sheriff Lynn Boyte and Brookhaven Police ChiefArlustra “Pap” Henderson.

Lampton said he definitely plans to keep and build on the strongties he has with Lincoln County officials.

Lampton’s nomination was one of four made by the Mississippisenators in January. Others were Jim Greenlee, of Oxford, for theNorthern District U.S. Attorney post; Larry Wagster, of Oxford, forthe Northern District U.S. Marshal position and Nehemiah Flowers,of Brandon, for the Southern District U.S. Marshal post.

Lott and Cochran touted the qualifications of all four.

“I think all of them have the qualifications and abilities thatwill enable them to serve with distinction in these importantpositions,” Cochran said in a statement.

Lott praised their combination of experience, integrity andbalance.

“I believe the new administration and our country will bewell-served by these outstanding people,” Lott said.

Lampton still has to go through a background check, and then theU.S. Senate would have to confirm the choice.

He will replace Brad Pigott, who is now working in a private lawpractice in Jackson.