Hicks, Morgan take office

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

Caldwell County welcomed new leadership in the District Attorney”s and District Clerk”s Offices on Tuesday morning during a short swearing-in ceremony. After their respective victories at the polls in March and November, Tina Morgan and Reagan “Trey” Hicks took their places at the helm of Caldwell County”s court system this we

ek.
Morgan, who defeated Amanda Mayers during the primary election, steps into the shoes left vacant by the retirement of long-time District Clerk Emma Jean Schulle.
“Ms. Schulle was District Clerk since 1979,” Morgan said. “And she was in the office for eight years before that, so she”s been in this office for more than 35 years. I had a lot to learn from her.”
Morgan said she moved from her position at the District Attorney”s Office to the District Clerk”s office in October to get her feet wet in the position. And although she plans on making some changes in operations, she does not plan on any staffing changes.
“The girls here are great,” she said. “They”re great at what they do, and we all work very well together. We haven”t had any problems with the changeover, and I don”t plan on having any.”
During her campaign, Morgan vowed to work toward upgrading victim restitution services, which had not been computerized in the past.
“We”ve already started computerizing the restitution,” she said. “I used to work with the victims so it means a lot to me, and I like making sure that they get their restitution.”
She noted with glee that she had written the first check for restitution, nearly $10,000 from a parent charged with criminal non-support.
“Normally, we mail the checks out, but I was so excited that I had to call the mother and tell her that it was here,” Morgan said.
Across the hall in the District Court Annex Building, the District Attorney”s Office has seen a bit more upheaval with the departure of former DA Chris Schneider and Hicks taking the helm.
“As far as support staff, we haven”t had any turnover,” Hicks said. “There are three new Assistant District Attorneys, though.”
Hicks said he and his staff have been reviewing case files, attempting to determine whether cases need to be filed with the Courts. The project, he claims, is the first step in trying to clear up the backlog that has plagued the Caldwell County Court system for years.
“I mean no disrespect to my predecessor,” Hicks said. “This backlog is not his fault. Our top priority, though, is trying to clear it up so we can move forward.”
Hicks said he also intends to focus his attention on jail overcrowding this term.