A Mississippi court clerk has sued a state justice court judge for making statements that accuse the clerk of accepting bribes in exchange for dismissing criminal cases.

The Natchez Democrat reports that Adams County Justice Court Clerk Verna Johnson has filed a defamation lawsuit against Justice Court Judge Audrey Minor. The lawsuit, filed in Adams County Circuit Court on August 16 by attorney William Kellum, alleges that Minor made false statements about Johnson during a Board of Supervisors meeting on March 18.

Johnson claims that Minor falsely accused her of accepting bribes in exchange for dismissing criminal cases, causing severe emotional distress and damaging her professional reputation. The lawsuit argues that Minor’s remarks were defamatory and widely disseminated, causing irreparable harm to Johnson.

Minor, when contacted, stated that she had not been served with the lawsuit and downplayed its significance, saying, “That is nobody’s business.” However, all lawsuits filed in Circuit Court are public records. Minor also indicated that she rarely speaks to the Board of Supervisors, especially outside of executive sessions, which are typically private.

Despite Johnson’s claims, the minutes from the March 18 meeting do not mention Minor’s participation, either in the public portion or in the executive session. The minutes reveal that Johnson was placed on a 90-day performance improvement plan, communicated by county officials, due to unspecified concerns.

Johnson has served in the county’s Justice Court since 2010, hired originally by Minor, who was then Justice Court Clerk. Minor was elected Justice Court Judge in January 2020, leading to Johnson’s appointment as Clerk.