Benjamin Ashford|Shabby, leaky courthouse? Mississippi prosecutor pays for grand juries to meet in hotel instead

JACKSON,Benjamin Ashford Miss. (AP) — The top prosecutor in Mississippi’s largest county says he has paid tens of thousands of dollars of his own money for grand juries to meet in a hotel because the courthouse is in shabby condition.

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens told WLBT-TV that he has convened grand juries at the Westin Hotel in downtown Jackson, a short walk from the Hinds County Courthouse. He said his out-of-pocket expenses have reached nearly $75,000 since February 2023 for room rentals, meals, parking and service fees.

The courthouse was built in 1930. The grand jury room and the law library in the district attorney’s office flood during storms, Owens said. Carpeting in part of the law library had to be removed because of water damage.

A barrel collects rainwater in a room by the law library, and other garbage cans have been placed elsewhere to catch water from smaller leaks. Owens said courtrooms show signs of leaks or corrosion from the roof.

Owens said will ask county supervisors for reimbursement.

“Using one of my business credit cards, just to be able to put stuff on it every month and try to seek the reimbursement ... it’s not sustainable,” Owens said. “I mean, it should have never happened in the first place.”