A Mississippi judge’s decision totemporarily block the release of inmates given pardons by Gov.Haley Barbour may affect two of the three pardons granted toindividuals in Lincoln County. Attorney General Jim Hood contendspublic notification procedures were not followed and thus thepardons are in violation of the state constitution.

     Three individuals withLincoln County ties were among the 207 pardons granted by Barbouron Monday. Patricia Diane Southerland, Hunter Olin Hope and AnonLaDell Jordan were granted full-pardons by the outgoinggovernor.

    Individuals seeking pardons are required to give public notice in anewspaper published in the county in which they were convicted.

    Southerland was convicted ofembezzlement in 1985; Hope wasconvicted for the sale of testosterone in 2005 and Jordan wasconvicted of burglary in 1998. All three convictions were inLincoln County.

    A search of records at The DAILY LEADER found no public noticeswere published for Southerland as required by state law. Jordan didpost the required public notice, but not within the 30 days asrequired. Jordan’s notice began running on Friday, Jan. 6, and willrun through the end of the month.

    A notice was published by Hope in November 30 days prior to theGovernor’s pardon as required by state law.

    In the surrounding area, five additional individuals were grantedpardons: three in Copiah County and two in Lawrence County. Therewere no pardons granted from Franklin County.

    It is the responsibility of the individual seeking a pardon toplace the required public notice.