Smith County clerk bonds out of jail following contempt of court charge

Published 11:50 am Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Smith County District Clerk Penny Clarkston was arrested on a contempt of court charge Monday after causing a “physical and verbal disruption” during jury selection, according to court documents. Tuesday, she bonded out through a personal recognizance bond.

This is the second time Clarkston has been charged with contempt. The first incident was in July when she refused to provide documents related to the case of convicted murderer William Davis in a timely manner.

Clarkston, 68, of Tyler, has been ordered to serve 10 consecutive days in the Smith County Jail for yelling at jurors and physically blocking the door when court officials said they were not needed, according to an order from 114th District Court Judge Austin Reeve Jackson.

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