30 days almost up!

[B.T. Justice]

Judge Helfrich isssued his ruling that Mayor Dupree put up department heads on September 29. Almost thirty days later, and the mayor has yet to state his intentions. Does anyone have any thoughts on what the judge or the council should or will do?
Personally, I would like to see the judge hold the mayor in contempt.

[jojobeans1120]

I'm not sure if he can, :smt102 but I believe that he should be arrested for contempt of court!!!! He's shown time and time again, that he (in his own little world) believes he is above the law. It is time that someone makes him account for his actions. This has gone on too long. :mad:

[OLDLADY]

Did we expect it to be any different? All this shows is what a total mockery the administration has turned the entire city into. Sometimes I wonder just how un-touchable the "powers that be" including JD, DW, BC, and KF really are? We keep hoping that someway somehow someone will step in and bring them down....

[IGID]

Hawk, you are exactly right. Even though I am a fan of Judge Helfrich, he left his ruling up to your own personal interpretation of what a reasonable time is. He didn't specify what a reasonable time was so don't expect anything to happen after the 30 days is up. That was only for an appeal of the ruling of whether or not he had to re-confirm department heads. He does and he knows it, in reasonable time and we all know he is not reasonable.

[jojobeans1120]

I would like to think that when the judge said a reasonable amount of time had passed, it meant that he should put his appointees up immediately. That did not happen. I see Johnny Dupree waiting until the last possible minute and then filing an appeal. :smt102

[justme]

Do not expect an appeal to be filed untill the 29th. Chances are it would be driven up to Jackson on the 29th and filed as close to 5pm as possible. If I were going to appeal - that is what I would do.

[58ford]

If JD were held in contempt, and was arrested, would it be an HPD officer that arrested him?
What's the jurisdiction on that?

[IGID]

That will NEVER happen, but if it did, the DA's office would have the warrant and they would probably have their investigators, who have police powers, serve the warrant.

[58ford]

I KNOW it won't happen, I was just curious.
Do you think JD will just keep filing appeals & foot dragging til his term is up?

And, why doesn't the council try something a little more proactive?
Maybe go ahead and say, at this point these Dept. heads are drawing paychecks, so unless you want somebody else in their positions, we'll go ahead and rule on them as your defacto appointees.

[jojobeans1120]

I KNOW it won't happen, I was just curious.
Do you think JD will just keep filing appeals & foot dragging til his term is up?

And, why doesn't the council try something a little more proactive?
Maybe go ahead and say, at this point these Dept. heads are drawing paychecks, so unless you want somebody else in their positions, we'll go ahead and rule on them as your defacto appointees.


I think that would be a great idea as well, however, I don't see it happening. If the appointees have yet to be approved, and If they do not set aside the money for those positions in the yearly budget, they shouldn't receive a paycheck at all. You would think someone would do their best to wiggle around the situation the way Mayor Dupree has.

[58ford]

Yeah, Jojo, we're apparently paying money to people who haven't been hired.
I wonder what our liability situation is?
Like what if a person not technically still employed by the city does something profoundly stupid and causes an injury or is injured?

[Maggie-Doodle]

IF the mayor has until the 29th of this month to sh** or get off the pot, he should then have to do whatever by Friday, the 27th...the 29th is on Sunday!

[bartspoon]

I was at the hearing, and it was obvious that the judge was mad as hell. He made no bones about it. He was digusted with the manner in which the city attorney had behaved, saying that he was ready to go to court to the newspaper and telling the judge he was not ready. And you could see he was not happy about the fact that this could not be handled on another level.

It had already been established in the summary judgement that the mayor was not going to follow the law anyway, in the deposition the mayor stated he had no intention of ever submitting the dept. heads. So the judge is well aware of what the mayor thinks.

So when it finally ends up back in the judges hands, if there is no appeal or if the appeal is thrown out. The mayor knowing how the Judge feels, is going to submit his dept. heads. At least in my humble opinion. Or face the rath of Judge Helfrich. And hell hath no fury like a Judge scorned.

[Maggie-Doodle]

bartspoon, you sure are an optimist! I hope you are right but I look for it to be dragged out to the end! I would hope the judge would have the balls to find Johnny in contempt and throw him in the slammer! Just as he might any other citizen who defies his wishes!

[cowgirl]

how about a lawsuit on behalf of the citizenry against Mayor for " failing to perform his duties as outlined ". let him dress up for that!

[jojobeans1120]

That's a great idea, but who is willing to do it? :smt102
IMO, the city council waited too long in doing so. I feel as though this should have been done much sooner. It was obvious that he wasn't willing to put them up for approval and had no intention of doing so... Why did they wait as long as they did??

[lamarrebel]

Well, after the judgment is final (i.e. no appeal taken or the judgment is affirmed on appeal) the Council could seek a contempt rememdy after some period of time that that Mayor hasn't complied with the court order. I have to agree with just me, however, I think this will be appealed at the last minute, and of course, appellants will probably ask for their automatic delays in their brief filings and everything else. I need the Mayor trying to drag this out as long as possible....I simply hope the Supreme Court will taken it on an expedited basis and not allow this.

[hbm]

If the judge did find him in contempt do you think there would be any empty cells or would they all be full?

[ACEsmom]

Heh -- put him in with the thugs that he's allowing to run the city. Maybe he could learn something... not that he would do anything with it. He IS a very educated man... just chooses not to use it I guess.

[B.T. Justice]

If the judge did find him in contempt do you think there would be any empty cells or would they all be full?

Sure, there would be plenty of room because crime is down in the Hub City.

[HoneyBun]

So what's the latest? Anybody know?

[Scooter]

From what I understand, since yesterday was the 29th, he has until 5 o'clock this afternoon to appeal. I guess we'll wait and see..

[justme]

That is right Scooter- Becuase the 30th day fell on a Sunday and the Court was not open, he has until 5 pm today. Do not expect to hear anything until tommorow- unless the reporters are watching his council and follow him to Jackson.

[carsalesguy]

i'm sitting on the edge of my seat for this one......this should be good.....

[Scipio]

Charles Lawrence told several people at the HAYLA sponsored candidate forum two weeks ago that he had not decided whether to appeal the order.

[noway]

What is there to appeal? Neither the judge or the AG ruled on how long he has to submit his dept heads. They both said he had to..The AG told him 9 months ago he had to.. Until there is`a time limit I dont see anything to appeal

[Scipio]

What is there to appeal? Neither the judge or the AG ruled on how long he has to submit his dept heads. They both said he had to..The AG told him 9 months ago he had to.. Until there is`a time limit I dont see anything to appeal

There is always SOMETHING to appeal.:)