JACKSON- State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced today that Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Dewayne Thomas ordered Warren County Circuit Clerk Shelly Palmertree to no longer use taxpayer money to pay for her attorneys’ fees.

Thomas opined that he believes the action before the Court is a personal action by Palmertree and not an action in the fulfilment of her duties as Circuit Clerk. Therefore, Thomas approved the State’s request for a temporary restraining order to prevent payment of personal attorney fees with public funds.

In addition, Judge Thomas ordered Palmertree to provide a full accounting of all funds received and disbursed by her office to the Court and the Warren County Board of Supervisors, as previously ordered, within 25 days. If she fails to do so, Thomas stated he will direct the State to file a petition for contempt.

“We are pleased with today’s rulings from Judge Thomas which will protect the taxpayers of Warren County,” Pickering said. “My Office will continue to hold those in elected office accountable for their actions.”

“The Warren County Board of Supervisors is taking all available measures to recover the taxpayer funds that have been misappropriated by Shelly Palmertree,” Warren County Board Attorney Marcie Southerland said. “We look forward to a resolution into this matter in the near future.”

In March, 2013, the Auditor’s Office served a civil demand to Palmertree in the amount of $661,751.75. The amount of $402,033.00 was attributed to Palmertree exceeding the fee cap, and $163,700.00 was attributed to her making payments to relatives within the first degree of kinship. By exceeding the circuit clerk fee cap, Palmertree violated Mississippi Code Section 9-1-43, which provides a salary limitation of $90,000.00 for both chancery and circuit clerks after any expenses are paid. This matter is in civil litigation in Hinds County Chancery Clerk.

In a previous unrelated event, Palmertree was indicted on three felony counts of embezzlement on January 23, 2014

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