Mississippi’s Republican-controlled, majority-white Legislature voted during the spring to
In response, Shannon said Jackson had a dysfunctional city government, and that state lawmakers feared local officials would squander the resources. Wingate asked Shannon for evidence supporting the idea city officials would use the money improperly, and Shannon declined to answer. But he referred elsewhere in his arguments to the city’s problems managing its water and garbage systems.
The NAACP also took aim at Rep. Trey Lamar, the Republican chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Lamar packed the law with irrelevant revenue provisions so he could steer the bill through Ways and Means without the approval of other relevant committees, Cline said.
In a written statement to The Associated Press, Lamar said the revenue provisions were not irrelevant and that there is “absolutely zero discriminatory intent” behind the creation of the new court.
In September, the state Supreme Court struck down the part of the same law dealing with appointed circuit court judges to handle felony cases and civil lawsuits.
Wingate, who listened quietly to the arguments with few interruptions, promised to issue a ruling before the court is set to be created on Jan. 1.
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