Court Opinion

ID: 865196
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-04-27 00:26:30.056567+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:24:15.307685
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

                                 NO. 2007-EC-00863-SCT

MONIQUE BROOKS MONTGOMERY

v.

THE LOWNDES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND LEON HINES,
IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS PARTY
CHAIRMAN

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                           05/17/2007
TRIAL JUDGE:                                HON. V. R. COTTEN
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                  LOWNDES COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                     BRIAN AUSTIN HINTON
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEES:                     WILLIAM THOMAS COOPER
NATURE OF THE CASE:                         CIVIL - ELECTION CONTEST
DISPOSITION:                                REVERSED AND RENDERED - 06/07/2007
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:

       EN BANC.

       DIAZ, PRESIDING JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

¶1.    In this case we are presented with a question of first impression. A candidate for

justice court judge does not live in the particular election subdistrict where she wishes to run

for office, although she is a resident of that county. Does her lack of residence within the

subdistrict prevent her qualifying as a candidate? Because the Constitution of 1890 sets the

only requirements for justice court judges, we hold that she is not barred from qualification.

                                Facts and Proceeding Below
¶2.    Monique Brooks Montgomery desires to qualify as a candidate for the position of

justice court judge in District 3 of Lowndes County. She is a resident of that county but

admits that she is not a resident within District 3. The Lowndes County Democratic

Executive Committee, through its Chairman Leon Hines, refused to qualify her, citing her

lack of residence within the subdistrict of the county. Montgomery petitioned the Lowndes

County Circuit Court for a review of that decision.

¶3.    After a scholarly and insightful examination of election law, the trial court declined

to overturn the decision of the Executive Committee, but noted that the issue was subject to

other interpretations. Aggrieved, Montgomery filed a bill of exceptions with this Court

pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-961 (Rev. 2001). Because of the importance of

timeliness we expedited our review of this case. As the sole issue in this case is one of law,

we examine the findings below de novo. See Boyd v. Tishomingo Co. Dem. Exec. Comm.,

912 So. 2d 124, 128 (Miss. 2005).

                                         Discussion

¶4.    The Constitution of 1890 creates a series of requirements for those wishing to qualify

as candidates for the office of justice court judge. Along with providing a four-year term of

office and placing educational requirements on those persons elected after 1976, the

Constitution requires that “[e]ach justice court judge shall have resided two (2) years in the

county next preceding his selection.” Miss. Const. of 1890 art. 6, § 171.

¶5.    In deciding that Montgomery did not meet the qualifications for candidate, the trial

court examined another section of the Constitution, which provides “that as to an office

where no other qualification than that of being a qualified elector is provided by this

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Constitution, the Legislature may, by law, fix additional qualifications for such office.”

Miss. Const. of 1890 art. 12, § 250. Based upon this constitutional provision that allows the

Legislature to change qualifications for office in certain instances, the trial court turned to

Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-359 (8) (Rev. 2001), which requires in pertinent part that:

       The appropriate election commission shall determine whether each candidate
       is a qualified elector of the state, state district, county or county district they
       seek to serve, and whether each candidate meets all other qualifications to hold
       the office he is seeking or presents absolute proof that he will, subject to no
       contingencies, meet all qualifications on or before the date of the general or
       special election at which he could be elected to office.

(emphasis added). Based upon this reasoning, the trial court concluded that the Legislature

intended that residency requirements in county districts apply to candidates for justice court

judge. A similar conclusion was reached in an opinion rendered by the Office of the

Attorney General:

       It has long been the opinion of this office that a candidate for the office of
       justice court judge must be a lawful resident of the district they seek to serve
       based, in part, on the above quoted statute [referencing Miss. Code Ann. § 23-
       15-359(8)], the constitutional requirement that only qualified electors are
       eligible to hold public office and the fact that one who is not a resident of a
       particular justice court district cannot be a qualified elector of that district.

Op. Miss. Att’y Gen., 2005 Miss. AG LEXIS 308, 1-2 (Sept. 23, 2005).

¶6.    This reasoning is based upon the assumption that the Legislature could change the

requirements for those seeking the office of justice court judge. This is not the case. Under

the Constitution, the qualifications of a qualified elector are:

¶7.    Every inhabitant of this state, except idiots and insane persons, who is a citizen
       of the United States of America, eighteen (18) years old and upward, who has
       been a resident of this state for one (1) year, and for one (1) year in the county
       in which he offers to vote, and for six (6) months in the election precinct or in
       the incorporated city or town in which he offers to vote, and who is duly

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       registered as provided in this article, and who has never been convicted of
       murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false
       pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement or bigamy, is declared to be a
       qualified elector, except that he shall be qualified to vote for President and
       Vice President of the United States if he meets the requirements established by
       Congress therefor and is otherwise a qualified elector.

Miss. Const. of 1890 art. 12, § 241.1 Yet under Article 6, Section 171, “[e]ach justice court

judge shall have resided two (2) years in the county next preceding his selection,” contrary

to the general one-year requirement in Article 12, Section 241. In addition, the justice court

judge section requires that justice court judges “shall be [a] high school graduate or have a

general equivalency diploma” if elected after 1976, in contrast to the qualified elector statute,

which sets no education requirement. Miss. Const. of 1890 Art. 6, § 171.

¶8.    The Constitution allows “that as to an office where no other qualification than that

of being a qualified elector is provided by this Constitution, the Legislature may, by law, fix

additional qualifications for such office.” Miss. Const. of 1890 art. 12, § 250 (emphasis

added). A statute crafted by the Legislature may not provide for changes in the justice court

judge section of the Constitution. Only an amendment may accomplish the task of altering

       1
         At varying times, the federal courts have ruled upon the constitutionality of Section
241 as it relates to disenfranchisement. These decisions do not affect today’s decision.
        In Graham v. Waller, 343 F. Supp. 1, 3 (S.D. Miss. 1972), the United States District
Court for the Southern District of Mississippi determined that Section 241's one-year
residency requirement violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
to the United States Constitution. The court found that a thirty-day durational residence
requirement would cure any constitutional issues. The subsequent amendment to this section
did not change the residency requirements. Gen. Laws 1972, ch. 626, eff. Nov. 22, 1972.
        However, more recently, in Cotton v. Fordice, 157 F.3d 388 (5th Cir. 1998), the Fifth
Circuit upheld Section 241 as constitutional. The court found that “§ 241 as it presently
exists is unconstitutional only if the amendments were adopted out of a desire to discriminate
against blacks.” Id. at 392 (citing Hunter v. Underwood, 471 U.S. 222, 228, 105 S. Ct.
1916, 85 L.Ed. 2d 222 (1985)).

                                               4
the Constitution. See Saxon v. Harvey, 223 So. 2d 620, 624 (Miss. 1969) (“The wisdom of

the drafters of our Constitution is not subject to question by this Court, and is to be modified

or altered by amendment only”).

¶9.    Nor is there a conflict between the constitutional provision and the statutes which

would require further analysis. See Bd. of Trs. of State Insts. of Higher Learning v. Ray,

809 So. 2d 627, 636 (Miss. 2002) (“The general principle followed when considering a

possible conflict between the constitution and a statute is that the constitutional provision

prevails”); Saxon, 223 So. 2d at 624 (“If there exists an irreconcilable conflict” between a

statute and the Constitution, “then the constitutional provisions must prevail”).

¶10.   The Constitution is detailed in setting its requirements for candidates for justice court.

The interaction between the residency requirements as set by the Constitution and the

districts or subdistricts within counties is properly addressed by constitutional amendment.

                                         Conclusion

¶11.   For the reasons above, we find that Monique Brooks Montgomery is properly

qualified as a candidate. The judgment of the trial court is reversed, and we render judgment

enjoining the Lowndes County Democratic Executive Committee and Leon Hines, in his

official capacity as party chairman, to place the name of Monique Brooks Montgomery on

the August 7, 2007, Democratic ballot as a candidate for Lowndes County Justice Court

Judge, District 3. Because of the expedited requirements set out by Miss. Code Ann. § 23-

15-961(6) (Rev.2001), any motion for rehearing shall be filed no later than Monday, June 11,

2007, and any response shall be filed no later than Wednesday, June 13, 2007.

¶12.   REVERSED AND RENDERED.

                                               5
     WALLER, P.J., GRAVES AND DICKINSON, JJ., CONCUR. RANDOLPH, J.,
DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY CARLSON AND
LAMAR, JJ. SMITH, C.J., AND EASLEY, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.

       RANDOLPH, JUSTICE, DISSENTING:

¶13.   Based upon the exigent circumstances (i.e., the printing of ballots), sufficient time for

a lengthy discourse is unavailable.       Nonetheless, after an exhaustive review of the

Mississippi Constitution and amendments thereto, relevant federal and state court rulings,

and the 1987 adoption of the Mississippi Election Code, Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-1 et seq.

(Rev. 2001),2 I am convinced this primary election contest is controlled by the provisions of

the Mississippi Election Code, as long as they are not inconsistent with the United States or

Mississippi Constitution. Analyzing the case sub judice utilizing only the Mississippi

Constitution evinces judicial myopia, and results in a disservice to those lawfully charged

with the responsibility of qualifying candidates and conducting elections. Therefore, I must

dissent.

¶14.   Article 12, Section 250 of the Mississippi Constitution states:

       [a]ll qualified electors and no others shall be eligible to office, except as
       otherwise provided in this Constitution; provided, however, that as to an office
       where no other qualification than that of being a qualified elector is provided
       by this Constitution, the Legislature may, by law, fix additional qualifications
       for such office.

Miss. Const. art 12, Section 250 (emphasis added). Provided elsewhere in the Mississippi

Constitution, Article 6, Section 171 states, in relevant part, that:

       2
       Specifically, on December 31, 1986, and January 2, 1987, the United States Attorney
General interposed no objections to the changes involved in Chapter 495, Laws of 1986,
thereby implementing the effective date of January 1, 1987, for the Mississippi Election
Code, Miss. Code Ann. §§ 23-15-1 et seq.

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       [a] competent number of justice court judges and constables shall be chosen
       in each county in the manner provided by law, but not less than two (2) such
       judges in any county, who shall hold their office for the term of four (4) years.
       Each justice court judge shall have resided two (2) years in the county next
       preceding his selection and shall be [a] high school graduate or have a general
       equivalency diploma unless he shall have served as a justice of the peace or
       been elected to the office of justice of the peace prior to January 1, 1976.

Miss. Const. art 6, Section 171 (emphasis added). As in State, ex rel. Attorney General v.

Land, 231 Miss. 529, 95 So. 2d 764 (1957), the “in the manner provided by law” language

of Article 6, Section 171 necessarily directs this Court to relevant legislative mandates. See

id. at 560.3

¶15.   Regarding primary elections, the Mississippi Election Code guides this Court by

complementing, not defying or invalidating any applicable provision of, the Mississippi

Constitution. According to Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-291:

       [a]ll nominations for state, district, county and county district officers made by
       the different parties of this state shall be made by primary elections. All
       primary elections shall be governed and regulated by the election laws of the
       state in force at the time the primary election is held.

Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-291 (Rev. 2001) (emphasis added). Focusing solely upon the

Mississippi Constitution requires this Court to willfully ignore integral statutes relating to

       3
           The relevant constitutional section in Land was Article 8, Section 204, which states:

       [t]here shall be a superintendent of public education in each county, who shall
       be appointed by the board of education by and with the advice and consent of
       the Senate, whose term of office shall be four years, and whose qualifications,
       compensation, and duties, shall be prescribed by law: Provided, That the
       Legislature shall have power to make the office of county school
       superintendent of the several counties elective, or may otherwise provide for
       the discharge of the duties of county superintendent, or abolish said office.

Miss. Const. art. 8, Section 204.

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primary election qualification. For example, a $10 candidate fee for primary election is

required. See Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-297(e) (Rev. 2001). Moreover, Miss. Code Ann. §

23-15-299(7) provides, in part, that:

       [u]pon receipt of the proper fee and all necessary information, the proper
       executive committee shall then determine whether each candidate is a qualified
       elector of the state, state district, county or county district which they seek to
       serve, and whether each candidate meets all other qualifications to hold the
       office he is seeking or presents absolute proof that he will, subject to no
       contingencies, meet all qualifications on or before the date of the general or
       special election at which he could be elected to office.

Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-299(7) (Rev. 2001) (emphasis added).4 This section requires that

the candidate be both a qualified elector and “mee[t] all other qualifications to hold the office

he is seeking[.]” Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-299(7) (Rev. 2001). Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-11

outlines who is a qualified elector, stating:

       [e]very inhabitant of this state, except idiots and insane persons, who is a
       citizen of the United States of America, eighteen (18) years old and upwards,
       who has resided in this state for thirty (30) days and for thirty (30) days in the
       county in which he offers to vote, and for thirty (30) days in the incorporated
       city or town in which he offers to vote, and who shall have been duly
       registered as an elector pursuant to Section 23-15-33, and who has never been
       convicted of any crime listed in Section 241, Mississippi Constitution of 1890,
       shall be a qualified elector in and for the county, municipality and voting
       precinct of his residence, and shall be entitled to vote at any election.

Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-11 (Rev. 2001) (emphasis added).5 Article 6, Section 171 provides

       4
         In Grist v. Farese, 860 So. 2d 1182 (Miss. 2003), a case involving qualification for
the office of district attorney, this Court found the statutory process of qualification provided
in Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-299(7) was not negated by Article 12, Section 250 and
controlled. See id. at 1187.
       5
       The Majority’s discussion of Article 12, Section 241 fails to recognize its limitation
in Graham v. Waller, 343 F. Supp. 1 (S.D. Miss. 1972). There, the United States District
Court for the Southern District of Mississippi determined that Article 12, Section 241 of the
Mississippi Constitution “impinge[d] upon and [was] violative of the Equal Protection Clause

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additional qualifications for holding the office of justice court judge.         Montgomery’s

dilemma is that she concedes she is not a resident of District 3, the very district in which she

is attempting to hold office. As Montgomery is not a qualified elector in the “voting precinct

of [her] residence,” Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-11, the Lowndes County Democratic Executive

Committee abided by existing Mississippi law in deeming her barred from qualification, and

the trial court did not err in agreeing. See Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-299(7) (Rev. 2001)

(candidate must be a “qualified elector of the state, state district, county or county district

of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and [was] null and
void for the reasons stated in [Dunn, Governor of State of Tennessee, et al. v. Blumstein,
405 U.S. 330, 92 S. Ct. 995, 31 L. Ed. 2d 274].” Graham, 343 F. Supp. at 3. As such, that
Court declared its opinion that:

       a thirty day durational residence requirement would satisfy every reasonable,
       compelling state interest for a bona fide residence in the state, in the county,
       and in the precinct and municipality as a condition precedent to the right of a
       citizen of the United States to became an elected qualified elector in such
       elections. Every citizen of the United States (except idiots and insane persons)
       eighteen years old and upward who has resided in this state for thirty days, and
       in the county thirty days, and in the election precinct, or municipality for thirty
       days, and who is duly registered as provided by valid laws of this state, and
       who has never been convicted of murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining
       money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement or
       bigamy shall be a qualified elector.

Id. at 3 . However, rather than seeking to amend Article 12, Section 241 to conform with this
ruling, the Legislature enacted Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-11 to cure the constitutional flaws
found in Article 12, Section 241.

       Additionally, the Majority’s reliance upon Cotton v. Fordice, 157 F. 3d 388 (5th Cir.
1998) is misplaced. In Cotton, the 5th Circuit merely declared Article 12, Section 241
constitutional insofar as it pertains to the denial of the ballot to any person “convicted of
murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury,
forgery, embezzlement, or bigamy . . . .” Id. at 389, 392 (quoting Miss. Const. art. 12,
Section 241).

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which they seek to serve[.]”). Based upon the aforementioned analysis, I would affirm the

dismissal of the Petition for Judicial Review.

       CARLSON AND LAMAR, JJ., JOIN THIS OPINION.

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