A lawsuit filed by Jefferson County residents accusing several justices of the peace of misconduct has been dismissed following a ruling by Special Judge Randall Wright.
In an order signed Dec. 12, Wright granted an amended motion to dismiss filed by the defendants, finding that the plaintiffs failed to present legally sufficient facts to establish a justiciable claim under Arkansas law.
The case was brought by Garland Trice, Pamela Barnes Earnest, Bruce Carman, Victor Johnson and Glenda Davis, who alleged that seven members of the Jefferson County Quorum Court improperly held meetings without authorization from the county judge and attempted to pass ordinances and disburse county funds without proper approval.
The defendants named in the suit included Alfred Carroll Sr., Reginald Adams, Reginald Johnson, Margarette Williams, Melanie Johnson Dumas, Cedric Jackson and Brenda Bishop Gaddy, each sued individually and in their official capacities as justices of the peace.
Following a Dec. 9 hearing, Wright concluded that the allegations contained in the complaint and amended complaint were deficient, stating that no facts were pled that would allow the defendants to meaningfully defend against the claims. The court also found that the pleadings provided no legal basis for granting the relief requested.
As a result, the amended motion to dismiss was granted without prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs are not barred from refiling the lawsuit if they can correct the deficiencies outlined by the court.
The order also allows the defendants to submit an itemized request for attorney fees for the court’s consideration.
Wright, who was appointed as special judge in the matter, issued the ruling while presiding over the case in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
