The Meridian City Council confirmed municipal court personnel during its August meeting, reappointing sitting judge Markham and confirming John Howell as a municipal judge, and approving three prosecuting attorneys and the city’s public defense attorney. The appointees described a courts-first approach that emphasizes alternatives to incarceration, rehabilitation programs and partnerships with local providers. "We were identified as one of the 10 courts in the nation that leads the nation in alternative sentencing," Judge Markham said, citing the court’s use of education, job training and mental-health coordination.\n\nThe nut graf: Council action formally filled several roles in the municipal court system and foregrounded a stated emphasis on rehabilitation and continuity between city court and circuit-level representation. The new and reappointed officials described programs that include GED and job-training partnerships with Meridian Community College and coordination with Williams Community Mental Health to connect individuals to treatment rather than immediate incarceration.\n\nJudge Markham credited partnerships with community organizations for outcomes he described as improved appearance and payment rates, saying compliance rates rose to about 97–98 percent for fine payments and appearance rates improved significantly. John Howell, who has served as judge pro tem, said serving in the role means focusing on rehabilitation and on programs inside correctional facilities. Prosecutors Patrick Stubbs, Tommy Horn and Matthew Butler spoke briefly about courtroom operations and said they welcome the appointments. Public defender Seth Curran described his role representing clients at preliminary hearings and providing continuity into circuit court. "If you've not hired counsel, we go off. I talk about their case. I go through all the facts of their case with them," Curran said, describing the public defender’s function at arraignments and DUI days.\n\nThe council took separate motions to confirm each appointment; each vote was put to roll call and recorded as affirmative in the meeting. The confirmations were met with public statements from the appointees about rehabilitative programming and continued coordination with law enforcement and treatment providers.\n\nEnding: With the court team in place, speakers said they will continue to expand alternatives to jail and strengthen connections with local educational and behavioral-health partners.