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He later served as a special assistant attorney general with the Mississippi Attorney General's Office. During his tenure, Sanders served as Deputy Director of the Public Integrity Division and Director of the Vulnerable Persons Division. Currently, he has been appointed as a special prosecutor in Holmes and Yazoo counties.

Those roles required Sanders to lead teams of attorneys, investigators and support staff. For Sanders, that management experience is an important part of what he would bring to the District Attorney's Office.

“A district attorney has to be able to prosecute cases, but the job is bigger than the courtroom,” Sanders said. “You have attorneys who need direction, cases that need to be monitored, investigators and staff who have to work together, and a public that expects the office to function. Leadership means putting a structure in place where people know their responsibilities and cases don't lose momentum.”

Experience as Prosecutor and Defense Attorney

Since 2019, Sanders has owned and served as lead attorney at the Law Office of Marvin L. Sanders, Esq., handling complex criminal defense matters in Hinds County and other counties across Mississippi.

That work followed nearly 20 years as a prosecutor and gave Sanders experience approaching criminal cases from both sides of the courtroom.

As a prosecutor, Sanders reviewed investigations, evaluated evidence, presented cases to grand juries and litigated criminal matters. As a defense attorney, he has examined evidence and investigative procedures from a different perspective, while evaluating constitutional issues and whether the government can meet its burden of proof.

Sanders said that experience has shaped how he views the role of a prosecutor. “The prosecutor's responsibility is to seek justice,” Sanders said. “Public safety matters. Accountability matters. But fairness matters, too. Every case deserves to be properly reviewed, and every decision should be based on the facts, the evidence and the law. That's how you build confidence in the system.”

Focus on Case Review and Courtroom Efficiency

If elected, Sanders said improving case management would be one of his first priorities. He wants to strengthen the process for reviewing cases as they come into the District Attorney's Office, with particular attention to investigative reports and supporting evidence before a matter is presented to a grand jury.

Sanders said earlier review would give prosecutors an opportunity to identify missing information, evidentiary concerns or the need for additional investigative work before a case moves further through the system.

“We need to do as much work as possible on the front end,” Sanders said. “Before a case goes to the grand jury, we should know what we have, what we may be missing and whether additional investigation is needed. Finding those issues early can save time later and help prosecutors make better decisions about their cases.”

Sanders also wants to review how prosecutors are assigned to courtrooms and cases. He believes greater continuity in those assignments can help prosecutors become more familiar with the cases already on their dockets. It can also improve communication, accountability and case management while helping the office address existing backlogs.

His goal is to improve the movement of cases from the time they arrive at the District Attorney's Office through grand jury consideration, arraignment, pretrial proceedings, trial or other disposition and final resolution.

“Efficiency isn't about rushing a case just to say it is closed,” Sanders said. “It's about knowing where the case is, what needs to happen next and who is responsible for making that happen. Cases shouldn't sit because of problems that can be fixed with better organization and communication.”

Making Better Use of Available Resources

Sanders said he would also work with the Mississippi Legislature and other appropriate governmental partners to identify and maximize appropriations and resources available to the Hinds County District Attorney's Office.

He said additional resources could be used to address office infrastructure, technology, staffing, case-management systems and professional training.

“Resources matter, but so does how you use them,” Sanders said. “The goal should be to make sure the people working in the office have the tools they need to serve the public and do their jobs well. If there are state resources available to strengthen the office, we should be pursuing them and putting them to work for Hinds County.”

Sanders said the range of his experience is what he believes distinguishes his candidacy. He has served as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, manager, division director, public servant and military veteran.

“I've seen the criminal justice system from a lot of different seats,” Sanders said. “I'm asking the people of Hinds County for the opportunity to take everything I've learned over the course of my career and put it to work for them. I want to lead an office that is prepared, fair and accountable, and where cases are handled professionally from beginning to end.”

Sanders is married to Attorney Gayla Carpenter-Sanders, and they are the parents of three children. ABOUT MARVIN L. SANDERS Marvin L. Sanders is an attorney, United States Air Force veteran and longtime public servant with more than 20 years of public service. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Alcorn State University and his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law. His legal career includes service as an assistant district attorney in Hinds and Leflore counties and as a special assistant attorney general with the Mississippi Attorney General's Office. His leadership roles have included deputy director of the Public Integrity Division and director of the Vulnerable Persons Division. Since 2019, Sanders has practiced criminal defense as owner and lead attorney of the Law Office of Marvin L. Sanders, Esq.