The County Commission voted Thursday to keep three current magistrates, but to replace Marty Lasley with Jennifer Lloyd.

Commission members said they had planned to keep the four-member "team" in place, but they said they were dismayed by remarks made by attorney Lasley during interviews of seven candidates last week.

Attorney Lasley told the commissioners he felt they could get along with fewer magistrates as well as fewer General Sessions Court judges, commission members said.

Commissioner Fred Skillern, who voted to keep attorney Lasley, said the commission needs four magistrates instead of three to provide round-the-clock coverage seven days a week. He said since there is no longer a need for paying part-time magistrates, the fourth magistrate was added at about one-third the cost of a magistrate.

The magistrates set bonds and sign warrants at the county jail - mainly on nights and weekends.

Attorney Lloyd, a summa cum laude law school graduate and former member of a top Birmingham law firm, received five votes to four for attorney Lasley.

Supporting Ms. Lloyd were Chairman Curtis Adams, Jim Coppinger, Richard Casavant, Larry Henry and Bill Hullander.

Voting to keep attorney Lasley were Commissioners Skillern, Warren Mackey, Greg Beck and John Brooks.

The commission was unanimous in returning Chief Magistrate Larry Ables and Magistrates Bob Davis and Yolanda Mitchell.

The commission also interviewed Keith Black and Jay McCurdy. Michael O'Hagan applied, but had to be out of town when the interviews were held.

Commissioner Henry said, "This is one of the best years we've had with the magistrates. I don't think I've had one phone call."

Concerning Chief Magistrate Ables, who is his nephew, he said, "I've got a little conflict there, but I would be the first to tell him if he was doing wrong."

Attorney Brooks voted "reluctantly" for attorney Lasley, saying during the interview "his score went down the more he talked."

He said, "Sometimes you've got down time, but you have to pay to have a body around."

Chairman Adams said, "We've got five sessions judges and we don't even have the authority to recommend four."

He said the Lasley remarks "that we have too many people shocked all of us.

"We were driving along in an 18-wheeler hauling chickens down the interstate, and all of a sudden he makes that statement and the truck jacknives and we've got chicken feathers all over us."

The magistrates formerly had four-year terms, but the commission now limits them to one-year terms.