Warrior Magazine December 2019

ECCC grad Mike Hurst enjoying role as U.S. Attorney

After graduating from East Central Community College in 1995, Hickory na tive Mike Hurst continued his education at Millsaps College in Jackson. During his senior year, he worked as a student clerk in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Jackson to earn some money for college. It turned out to be a part-time job that would also be the catalyst for his future as a United States Attorney. “At the time, I had no idea what the U.S. Attorney’s Office did. I just knew I needed to make some money to sup port myself through college. However, once there, I saw the incredible work that these men and women were doing for our communities, enforcing the rule of law and delivering justice to victims. I had never been more inspired to pursue a career, and decided then and there that I would go to law school and come back as an Assistant U.S. Attorney one day,” Hurst said. Hurst never had a long term goal of becoming U.S. Attorney and never expected being appointed to this posi tion. Hurst was nominated by President Donald J. Trump in June 2017 and was confirmed by the United States Senate in October 2017. He was sworn in as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi on October 10, 2017. The United States At torney is the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for his or her respective judicial district. “Our office is tasked with pros ecuting federal crimes that occur in the Southern District, as well as de fending the Federal Government in any civil lawsuits, suing on behalf of the Federal Government when it has been defrauded, and collecting debts owed to the Federal Government,” Hurst said. “We work very closely with local, state, federal and Tribal law enforcement to ensure that our communities are safe.” Hurst said he loves being United States Attorney because his job is to

simply see that justice is served. “I don’t get paid to arrest or convict people,” he said. “I get paid to always do the right thing. In my opinion, there can be no more satisfying or rewarding ca reer than doing what you love and doing it for all the right reasons.” Hurst said the most challenging aspect of his job is dealing with people who have broken the law, and many times helping the victims who have been af fected by this criminal behavior. “Sometimes the victims are directly harmed by the criminal’s actions, and sometimes victims are simply family members who are indirectly but sig nificantly affected when their father or mother has been arrested for a crime. We try to ameliorate these challenges by enforcing the law compassionately, treat

ing individuals with whom we come into contact with re spect and dignity, while also doing all that we can for the victims. It’s never easy, but it is a righteous cause, as I think we are truly making our com munities safer and the quality of life for our citizens better,” he said. When asked what advice he would give to those consid ering law as a career, Hurst said, “Ask yourself why you want to study law, what do you enjoy, and how does a law degree help you fulfill that enjoyment. People say all that time that if you do

what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. I have found that to be the case in my current job, where I am able to use my law degree to help others, which is what brings me joy and fulfillment.” Hurst received his bachelor’s degree from Millsaps and completed his first year of law school at the University of Mississippi School of Law. He then transferred and finished his law degree at George Washington University School of Law in Washington, D.C. Hurst began his career at a law firm in Washington, D.C., practic

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