Monday, November 25, 2013, 11:59 pm News Flash Archive

On November 22, the MS Supreme Court finally granted the petition of Willie Perkins to withdraw as attorney for city council member Dorothy Glenn.

Perkins had been defending Glenn from claims that she does not live in Ward 5 which she was elected to represent. Andrew Powell had filed an election contest on that basis, and special judge Henry Lackey had ruled, after a trial last summer, that Glenn indeed does not actually live in Ward 5. He voided her election and ordered a special "run-off" election between Powell and Norman Smith, who had come in third in the primary.

Perkins filed an immediate Interlocutory Appeal to the Supreme Court, asking that Judge Lackey's ruling be stayed pending appeal. The Court granted the stay, resulting in Ms. Glenn being seated as Ward 5 council member where she continues to serve.

But relations soured between Perkins and Glenn, and on October 16th, Perkins filed a motion for permission to withdraw as Glenn's attorney. The Supreme Court initially denied his motion, because he had not complied with the rule requiring the permission of his client, or showing why he could not obtain that permission.

Several sources have informed me that Perkins and Glenn had a parting of ways because Glenn will not pay Perkins' bill for services rendered.

Now that Perkins is free from the case, it will be interesting to see whether Glenn can obtain the services of another attorney. Without one, it seems doubtful that Glenn will be able to sustain her appeal.

If Glenn's appeal is dismissed, then she would be removed from office by Lackey's order and a run-off election would be held to fill the vacant seat.

John Pittman Hey
The Taxpayers Channel

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