The Leflore County Board of Supervisors will appeal Justice Court Judge James Littleton's decision to pay former judge Larry "Blue" Neal his full month's salary for March.
A decision was made after an executive session during a Friday morning meeting. Neal was not at the meeting.
"It's not so much about the money as it is about what I feel was an erroneous decision," said District 2 Supervisor Robert Moore, president of the board. "That decision dilutes the board's authority as a judicial body."
The board voted 3-0 for the appeal. District 5 Supervisor Larry "Kite" Johnson was not present for the vote. District 1 Supervisor Phil Wolfe was absent from the meeting.
Neal resigned as justice court judge on March 2 to run for mayor. During the two days he worked, Neal heard an estimated 200 cases.
On March 31, Neal received a prorated check for $189.64, which paid him for two days. Chancery Clerk Sam Abraham based the pay on Neal's annual salary of $34,608.
Abraham's decision to pay the prorated share was supported April 4 at a Board of Supervisors meeting.
Neal sued the day he was paid, saying that a majority of his work had been done during that time.
The lawsuit against Chancery Clerk Sam Abraham and the Board of Supervisors was brought to Justice Court on April 21.
Littleton ruled in favor of the plaintiff and ordered the board to pay Neal his full salary of $2,500 plus court costs of $54.
The appeal will be filed with County Court. Moore says the court costs of the appeal should not be considered in conjunction with the payment of $2,554.
Moore said the wait to appeal was not related to the mayoral Democratic primary results. "We waited until the last day to appeal because we wanted everyone to have a chance to make up their minds."
Not to appeal, Moore says, is to open the door to anyone with a complaint against the board.
