2022FallWarriorWEB

Melissa Thrash Carleton MBCI A ttorney N amed ECCC A lumna of the Y ear

MBCI, said of Melissa, “She is super dedi- cated to the Tribe and her work. Her level of integrity and credibility is exceptional. She is probably the most dependable person I’ve worked with and I’ve often seen her ar- rive early and stay late to make sure tasks are completed. By all accounts her peers, elected officials, and those in tribal govern- ment depend on her and trust her. Her work load oftentimes expands because she is so dependable, even when some things may not fall under her responsibility. “This award is very well deserved. Melissa is a stellar representative for East Central Community College and the college should be proud to claim her as an alumna, based on her pro- fessional endeav- ors, her commu- nity involvement and volunteer work, and her dedication to her family.” While serving in this interim role, Carleton also continues to handle all duties and responsibilities of the Deputy Attor- ney General which include but are not limited to representa- tion of the Tribe’s interests in its business enterprises and the Tribal Government and representing the Tribe’s govern- mental departments including its school system, police and fire departments, social services, risk management, election, and public works departments. Carleton said, “I have always had an interest in the ju- dicial system and public policy. I had an uncle who was a preeminent criminal defense attorney in New Orleans, and I always admired him. He once defended a high-profile crimi- nal case in Newton County when I was in junior high school, and he used my parents’ home as his ‘office.’ I feigned ill- ness for a few days so I could stay home and eavesdrop on all of the trial prep and negotiations. Listening to my uncle negotiate those issues with the special prosecutor, Mike Moore, who then became Mississippi’s Attorney General, was fascinating and definitely inspired me to pursue a ca- reer in law.” Carleton has been the recipient of numerous awards during her career including the Mississippi Bar’s Woman Trailblazer Award and MBCI Employee of the Year recogni- tion on two different occasions, both of which she said were highlights of her career. She said one of the most humbling experiences of her career was being asked by Circuit Judge Marcus Gordon to take a leave of absence from the Tribe to work as Special Counsel and Judicial Assistant during the historic State v. ”

Melissa Thrash Carleton of Meridian, an attorney with the Mississippi Band of Choc- taw Indians, was recently named Alumna of the Year at East Central Community College and will be recognized during Homecoming activities scheduled Thursday, October 20. “I am deeply honored to be named Alum- na of the year, particularly since I have such strong family ties to the college,” she said. “When I was born, my parents brought me home directly from the hospital to faculty housing on campus, and I have continued to have a close connection to the college my entire life.” Carleton, who is a Decatur native and

1988 graduate of East Central Community Col- lege, began her career with the Mississippi Band

I am deeply honored to be named A lumna of the year , particularly since I have such strong family ties to the college .

of Choctaw Indians Attorney General’s office during Chief Phillip Martin’s administration and then worked with Miko Beasley Denson’s administration. Since that time, she has continued her work through the administrations of Chief Phyliss Anderson and current Chief Cyrus Ben, both of whom are also ECCC alumni. Her law practice began following graduation from the University of Mississippi School of Law when she took a position with Logan and May, P.A., in Newton in 1993. She then worked as a Senior Staff Attorney with the Administra- tive Office of Courts and was assigned to the Eighth Circuit Court District to work with Senior Circuit Judge Marcus Gordon and Circuit Judge Vernon Cotton. “In 2000, Chief Phillip Martin asked me to join the staff of the MBCI’s Attorney General’s Office, and I have been blessed to have been in that office in various positions for almost 23 years. Professionally, Chief Phillip Martin influ- enced my career more than any other person. He believed in me and promoted me to Acting Attorney General when I was relatively young and extremely inexperienced in the intricacies of federal Indian law,” she said. In her current position as Interim Attorney General, Car- leton serves as chief legal advisor to and chief law enforce- ment officer for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, including representation of the Tribe’s legal interests for approximately 40 governmental departments, programs, agencies, commissions, and business enterprises. She also oversees the staff of the criminal division who are respon- sible for the prosecution of offenses committed on the Reservation each year and serves as the primary liaison for state, local, and federal government interactions. She reports directly to the Chief and oversees a staff of 17 and a budget in excess of $2 million. John Hendrix, director of economic development for “

–CARLETON continued on page 18

ALUMNI NEWS

17