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Cole Co. circuit court clerk resigns

The seal of the office of auditor
The seal of the office of auditor

Mrs. Brenda Umstattd has resigned as Circuit Clerk of Cole County after a state audit report was released on Wednesday. State auditor Tom Schweich says the report identified the overall performance of the Circuit Court was poor. It also found that 14 thousand dollars were missing and Schweich says the money was likely stolen by two court employees. State Courts Administrator Greg Linhares says it is very important for tax payers to know how their money is spent.

“These accounting procedures if they are not properly followed, you are not having a clear account of where your money is going, you are not able to track your funds properly and thus you are not performing good towards your tax payers. That’s why is was important that judge Joyce brought in the auditor to make sure everything was found so that we could move forward and do things properly,” Linhares said.

Presiding Judge Patricia S. Joyce will act as the appointing authority for the Circuit Court until Governor Nixon names a successor. Meanwhile the office of the State’s Court Administration will hold trainings for all the clerks.