By Cristin Ross

living@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Cherokee County Assistant County Attorney Kelley Peacock came into the newly-formed position in October and literally hit the ground running — in high-heel suede boots no less.

“My husband is from here and we wanted to open a (law) practice here,” Peacock explained as she shuffled through the ever-increasing pile of case files on her desk at the Cherokee County Courthouse. “I’ve been prosecutor in Cass County and Smith County and when this position opened up, it was perfect since prosecuting is what I’m most comfortable with.”

That comfort level has extended to every aspect of her job.

“Everyone here has been so great,” she said. “It’s just been open arms everywhere I turn.”

But, don’t get the wrong idea about the job. Peacock said being comfortable with her coworkers only helps make a grueling day go by easier.

“Just today I handled a protective order, pushed a DWI case I’m working on forward, did a mental commitment hearing for the state hospital and a juvenile hearing,” she said, ticking off the list on her manicured fingers. (All that before lunch.) “That’s the most difficult part of the job — switching hats throughout the day. I honestly don’t know how Craig (Caldwell) did this job by himself. It’s tough, but I love it.”

Raised in Houston, Peacock got her first taste of small-town life when she, husband Nick, step-daughter Dru and George, the English bulldog, moved to Linden.

“It was a nice town, but too small,” she said with a laugh.

She came to this area when the family moved to Smith County, and after a stint there, they finally settled in Jacksonville.

“We like the stability here,” she admitted with a small shrug. “The best thing is everyone here is so laid back, yet still so professional. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how open and friendly everyone is.”

Peacock graduated from Texas A&M; in 1998 with a business degree; graduated from the University of Houston Law Center in 2002; and got her license in 2004.

“She comes to us with an excellent background in trial work and appellate court work,” County Attorney Craig Caldwell said as Peacock bustled off to court after lunch. “I really didn’t have to train her at all. She’s only been here about a month-and-a-half but she’s already covered the things that I was covered up with.”

Caldwell said he researched expanding his office by contacting CAs in counties of comparable size — getting salary numbers, personnel numbers case volume.

“I probably contacted about 15 counties, scattered throughout the state,” he said. “When I got my proposal ready I presented it to commissioners. That was two budget cycles ago. We didn’t have the funds then, but this year I made my request and commissioners agreed it was doable.”

Commissioners court members budgeted for two new positions for the CA’s office — an assistant attorney and a secretary.

“Craig’s been asking for these positions for two or three years now,” County Auditor L.H. Crockett said. “We knew he was swamped, and after considering tax revenue, we squeezed it into the budget.”

And not a moment too soon, apparently.

“When I first took this office, there were no truancy cases, this office wasn’t trying speeding tickets in the JP (Justice of the Peace) courts and I was handling maybe 100 to 150 misdemeanor cases a month,” Caldwell said. “Now we’re seeing more and more of all that, plus twice or triple the amount of CPS (child protective service) cases, adult protective service cases and more protective orders from the Crisis Center.

“Another lawyer in the office will greatly expedite the day-to-day decisions made in cases,” Caldwell said. “She helps me be in two places at once.”