Opinion ID: 1711382
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Did the trial court have authority to hear the issue?

Text: ¶ 12. On appeal, Barbour asserts that Gunn had no statutory authority to file his petition in circuit court  partially because he did not give the SREC a reasonable opportunity to act upon his petition. Barbour further asserts that the necessary requirements were not met for Gunn to proceed under Miss.Code Ann. § 23-15-927 (Rev.2001), which states in part: When and after any contest has been filed with the county executive committee, or complaint with the State Executive Committee, and the said executive committee having jurisdiction shall fail to promptly meet or having met shall fail or unreasonably delay to fully act upon the contest or complaint, or shall fail to give with reasonable promptness the full relief required by the facts and the law, the contestant shall have the right forthwith to file in the circuit court of the county wherein the irregularities are charged to have occurred ... a sworn copy of his said protest or complaint, together with a sworn petition, setting forth with particularity wherein the executive committee has wrongfully failed to act or to fully and promptly investigate or has wrongfully denied the relief prayed by said contest, with a prayer for a judicial review thereof... The filing of such petition for judicial review in the manner set forth above shall automatically supersede and suspend the operation and effect of the order, ruling or judgment of the executive committee appealed from. ¶ 13. Gunn asserts in defense that the SREC did not schedule a hearing in a timely manner, that the SREC officials indicated they may not have the authority to grant the relief he was requesting, and that there was not enough time before the general election to await the proceedings of the SREC. The trial court proceeded to hear the matter, asserting the broad powers vested in it by the Mississippi Election Code and a demand for timeliness; the general election was only thirty-six days away at the time of the hearing. ¶ 14. This Court agrees that the trial court properly found that it had jurisdiction to proceed in this matter. Miss.Code Ann. § 23-15-927 plainly states that an election contestant shall have the right forthwith to file in the circuit court of the county wherein the irregularities are charged to have occurred, if the executive committee having jurisdiction shall fail to promptly meet or having met shall fail or unreasonably delay to fully act upon the contest or complaint, or shall fail to give with reasonable promptness the full relief required by the facts and the law. (emphases added). ¶ 15. So there is a simple test to be considered for filing a contest in circuit court: the committee having jurisdiction must fail to promptly meet, or unreasonably delay action, or fail to give prompt relief. The SREC officials were concerned they would not have time before the general election to decide the issue; therefore Gunn seized the reins of his complaint and steered it directly to circuit court. Taking the facts of this case as true, which we are bound to do, this is a completely permissible procedure. It is clear from the face of Miss.Code Ann. § 23-15-927 that a trial court has jurisdiction in these rare circumstances. [2] In addition, the trial court made a factual finding that the general election was so near at hand that a revote was needed immediately to preserve the rights of voters. ¶ 16. The statute was crafted in that fashion to preserve the voices of the voters of Mississippi. If the trial court could not hear such a complaint, a contested primary might very well drag on past the general election, thereby disenfranchising the members of a political party. This is not permissible. The right to vote is an important badge of citizenship that should be treasured by all citizens, and Mississippi courts must safeguard it accordingly. The trial court acted in accordance with the will of the Legislature and in the best interests of the citizens of Mississippi by taking jurisdiction of the election contest.