Gulfport City Council voted to use a special magistrate to hear code enforcement-related cases. The city has used and voted to continue to use Jim Thaler to hear these cases. Thaler, a lawyer, charges $150 an hour for his services.
If the city opted to discontinue using a special magistrate, such cases would go to the circuit court.
Since adopting the process of a special magistrate, Community Development Director Fred Metcalf estimates Thaler has heard “approximately 10” cases.
