Grand jury March 8

It has been over a year since a grand jury was seated in Marshall County Circuit Court.

The reason is partly because of the coronavirus and partly because the courthouse has been under repair and renovation since the fall of 2019.

“It’s the first grand jury since January 2020,” circuit clerk Monet Autry said. “We attempted to have a grand jury and had to cancel it because of COVID.”

She expects the new grand jury to work all week starting March 8.

In a review of Autry’s first year in office, she discussed some of the high points and big issues.

“I had two elections (in 2020), a primary and the general election,” she said.

This was her first time to be responsible for an election, and it was more involved than usual because of COVID and special protections for poll managers and voters.

Both elections and the runoff election for the District 5 position of the school board seat were conducted according to safety guidelines issued for COVID.

The State of Mississippi provided extra poll managers using CARES Act money.

The courthouse was on lockdown for about three months beginning in March 2020. Only people who needed to conduct business were allowed to enter.

The courthouse doors were reopened around the first of September when absentee voting began.

“We had so many people coming in to vote absentee, we just opened up,” Autry said.

There is an election this fall for school board and circuit judges, she said. The next federal election is in 2022.

Autry said her biggest hurdle in taking office was to adjust to the new court system. Prior to her election to the circuit clerk’s office she served 19 years as Marshall County justice court clerk.

“The terminology differs from justice court,” she said.

Since it was her first year to serve, secretary of state Michael Watson visited with the clerk and election commissioners to ask what was needed and to set a working relationship on a personal level. It was also Watson’s first year in office as secretary of state.

Watson recently sent Autry a circuit clerk’s pin and a handwritten card which read:

“I wanted to send you one of our circuit clerk pins now that I’ve had a chance to catch my breath. Please let me know when we can be of service. All my best. Michael.”

“I was really impressed,” Autry said.

She shared the card and pin with her family.

“I’m really important,” she quipped. “Look what I got today.” The renovation and restoration of the courtroom is very impressive, Autry said.

The upgrade includes new lighting “that is just beautiful.” The old blinds were taken down so the room is full of natural light. There is a fresh coat of paint. And the floors were cleaned and waxed.

What’s left is to get ready for the next arraignment in April. There will be another term in May.

In discussing professional conduct of the court’s business, Autry recalled the words of her mother, the late Ellen Bogan Bell.

“My momma always said, `You gotta to do it right and in order. You don’t have to be perfect as long as you do it right.’ “

Autry said she has never forgotten her mother’s teachings.

Ellen Bogan Bell lived to be 103 years of age and died at home during Autry’s first year in office.