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District Attorney Walt Merrell announced that Nikki (Hussey) Stephens, a long time prosecutor in his office, will be promoted to the post of Chief Assistant District Attorney. Merrell made the promotion when Grace Jeter, his former Chief Assistant, was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey to serve as Circuit Court Judge.

Merrell noted that Stephens, a graduate of Jones School of Law at Faulkner University, graduated second in her law school class.

“She is the kind of lawyer I want working for the people of Covington County. She is highly intelligent, driven, motivated, and sharp as a tack in the courtroom. She has all the social graces of a southern lady and will be a great Chief,” Merrell said.

Stephens was born and raised in Banks, Alabama, a small community in the north end of Pike County.

“From as far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a lawyer,” Stephens said. “As I grew into my teenager years, like so many other high school students, I was exposed to ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and that solidified my aspirations.”

Stephens graduated from Charles Henderson High School before attending Troy University, where she graduated with honors with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration.

After graduating from Jones School of Law, Stephens married her longtime beau, Brian, and the couple moved to Stephens’ family land in Elba, where they still reside today on the family farm.

“When I was in law school, I clerked for the District Attorney in Pike County, and it was then that I began to realize that to be a true ‘Atticus Finch’ I needed to be a prosecutor. When I graduated, they didn’t have an opening, so I joined a business law firm in Dothan,” she said.

Stephens represented personal and business interests from around the Wiregrass, but she said she “knew the Lord would work it all out. I enjoyed private practice but I knew I wanted to be a prosecutor. And then one day, I saw where Walt was looking to hire a new prosecutor, so I applied.”

Stephens has now worked in the District Attorney’s Office for eight years. She first interviewed with then Chief Assistant Grace Jeter and Merrell for the job.

“As the Chief Assistant, Walt tasked me with reviewing the applications and conducting the interviews. Nikki stood out above the rest and it was an easy recommendation for me to make at the time,” Circuit Court Judge Jeter said. “I know it’s an easy decision for Walt to make now. She has been a great advocate for victims and for the people of Covington County.”

Merrell noted that “Stephens has prosecuted everything from murder cases to handling Drug Court, so she knows the system well. She has the fortitude to make even the toughest decisions if I am otherwise unavailable. More than that, though, she has a heart for victims and does a great job at building relationships with people who find themselves reeling from life’s tragedies.”

To that end, Stephens did offer excitement for the new post.

“Walt always taught me that we don’t do this job for accolade or prominence and I agree. There is not much better in this world than a big hug after a guilty verdict or seeing a child out and about happy and doing well after I’ve prosecuted their offender. I very much look forward to more of those moments to come serving the people of Covington County as its Chief Assistant,” Stephens said.