NATCHEZ — A leaky roof at the Adams County Courthouse prompted Circuit Court Judge Debra Blackwell to enter a court order for a new office space.

In an August meeting, the board unanimously agreed to apply for a Mississippi Department of Archives and History grant to do $50,000 worth of repairs to the roof on the courthouse with a 40% match.

Before that could come to fruition, however, Blackwell found leaks in her own office that hindered her from her work, Adams County Attorney Scott Slover said.

The order, dated Oct. 31, stated that it is necessary for Blackwell to have an office to work and store files and equipment without being concerned that they would be damaged.

Blackwell ordered the Board of Supervisors to pay a lease of $400 per month to Walter Brown Jr. for a space across the street from the courthouse.

“I don’t think that is legal,” Supervisor Rickey Gray said of the court order during Monday’s meeting. “Can she submit a court order for us to pay a lease?”

Slover said the board could have appealed the order but opted not to do so because Blackwell still needed an office space and took no action to that effect during Monday’s meeting.

“The jurisdiction of courthouse and office facilities lies with the supervisors and not anyone else,” Slover said. “The Board of Supervisors is elected to make those types of decisions.”

Slover said that in the meantime Blackwell would be free to switch offices as she chooses.

The issue is scheduled for review in March 2020 or earlier in the event that repairs are made before then.