Kay Ivey appoints new sheriff, judge in Black Belt

Gov. Kay Ivey has appointed a new sheriff and a judge to fill vacancies in Montgomery and Butler counties. 

Samarria Munnerlyn Dunson has been appointed as District Judge for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Montgomery County. She is a graduate of The University of Alabama and The University of Alabama School of Law and studied comparative law at The University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

She succeeds District Judge Monet M. Gaines.

“Samarria Dunson is well grounded in the law serving as a private attorney and legal counsel, an Assistant Attorney General with the Alabama Department of Public Health and Municipal Judge for the City of Montgomery,” said Ivey. “She offers a considerable depth and range of court experience and will serve the people of Montgomery with integrity and professionalism.”

In Butler County David B. Scruggs filles in for retiring Sheriff Danny Bond. Scruggs has a 20-year background in law enforcement.

“Over his two decades in law enforcement, David Scruggs has not only faithfully served the people of Butler County, but he has also obtained considerable experience within each of the principal law enforcement agencies of the county,” Ivey said.

“He has risen in responsibility from the rank of a Patrol Officer to the Chief Deputy Sheriff. David Scruggs’s strong record of protecting Butler County will serve the people well as he assumes the position of sheriff.”