A Mississippi judge Wednesday evening issued a temporary injunction forbidding the release of any more prisoners pardoned or given clemency by outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour, whose actions created an uproar.

The pardons include four convicted murderers and a convicted armed robber who were released Sunday. The five now must contact prison officials on a daily basis as their fate is adjudicated.

The pardons are “a slap in the face to everyone in law enforcement and Gov. Barbour should be ashamed,” said state Attorney General Jim Hood.

The process of releasing 21 other inmates has been halted, said Hood, who sought the court order.

A court hearing on the matter will be held January 23.

Hood said Barbour violated Mississippi’s Constitution because the pardon requests for many inmates were not published 30 days before they were granted, as required.

Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Tomie Green issued the injunction, saying it appeared some pardons, including those for the four murderers, did not meet the 30-day requirement. Any inmates released in the future must meet the standard, Green ruled.

On his way out the door, the Republican governor approved full pardons for nearly 200 people, including 14 convicted murderers, according to documents the Mississippi secretary of state’s office released Tuesday.

The four murderers who received full pardons last week — David Gatlin, Joseph Ozment, Charles Hooker and Anthony McCray — were cited in Green’s order.

They were all serving life sentences and worked as inmate trusties at the governor’s mansion, said Suzanne Singletary, spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Trusties are inmates who can receive additional rights through good behavior.

Hood told “AC360” it’s possible that those who didn’t meet the 30-days requirement may have to return to prison and complete their sentences.

Barbour said Wednesday that some people misunderstand the clemency process and believe that most of the individuals were still jailed.

“Approximately 90 percent of these individuals were no longer in custody, and a majority of them had been out for years,” he said in a statement.

“The pardons were intended to allow them to find gainful employment or acquire professional licenses as well as hunt and vote. My decision about clemency was based upon the recommendation of the Parole Board in more than 90 percent of the cases,” Barbour wrote. “The 26 people released from custody due to clemency is just slightly more than one-tenth of 1 percent of those incarcerated.”

Half of the people who were released were placed on indefinite suspension “due to (chronic) medical reasons because their health care expenses were costing the state so much money,” Barbour said.

Hood said he is questioning the release of many of the 175 individuals who received full pardons.

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