Needed: Medical examiner

The Clarion-Ledger, 12/26/8

Officials are moving closer to hiring Mississippi’s first medical examiner in more than a decade.

“It is progressing,” said Sam Howell, director of the State Crime Lab. “They are looking at some candidates to be interviewed.”

The medical examiner’s post has been vacant since the mid-1990s. During that time, Dr. Steven Hayne performed most of the autopsies.

On Aug. 4, Public Safety Commissioner Steve Simpson sent out a letter, removing Hayne from the list of approved pathologists.