By Barnett WrightThe Birmingham TimesA Jefferson County Commission committee today voted unanimously to hire its first African American to lead the county’s in-house law department. Theo Lawson was selected to serve as lead county attorney by a committee made up of three Republicans and two Democrats. If confirmed, he would become only the fourth lead attorney since the county established its law department in 1975 and the first non-white. “We’re moving forward and making great strides under the current receiver and getting jobs back into the county,” Lawson said. Lawson said his only job going forward would be Jefferson County attorney.