There is a fondness for saying that one needs a score card when trying to keep up with the ins and outs of some process or changing condition, whether that’s grandpa’s medicine regimen or sister’s social calendar. In the case of the Jefferson County Quorum Court, perhaps an entire database with a half-dozen clerks would be more apropos.
It was enough even to confuse a sitting judge. Special Judge Randy Wright, who should be getting hazardous duty pay for dealing with the mess of county government, had ruled to dismiss a lawsuit filed against several justices of the peace because it was said by the defendants that the plaintiffs had not responded in a timely manner. The defendants then filed a request to have the lawsuit against them dismissed, and the judge, who is probably used to acting on such requests because they are filed by attorneys who know whereof they write, went ahead and dismissed the case.
Except there had been a response by the plaintiffs, meaning the defendants didn’t know what they were talking about because they don’t have an attorney and apparently are just flailing around on their own. That meant that Judge Wright had to rethink the matter, and then after counting to 10 a few times he tore up the ruling to dismiss, and now there’s an active lawsuit again.
The poor judge had to issue his own score card, with the step by step of what went on.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“1. The defendants in this case filed a Notice stating that this matter shall be dismissed because there was no action taken by Plaintiff.”
“2. However, it was discovered that action was taken on the matter. …”
“3. As such, action was taken, and the matter should not have been dismissed.”
“4. The dismissal filed is now withdrawn; Plaintiffs’ request to vacate the dismissal is granted.”
This is, of course, just one ring of the three-ring circus. County Judge Gerald Robinson has won one of his cases against the Quorum Court members and says he is readying to file another over the validity of the budget that was passed and then vetoed by Robinson, whose veto was then overridden by the JPs.
As a side note, because the JPs believe they passed a budget, Robinson will be getting his first paycheck since the first of the year. That stems from a state law signed in February that requires the pay for county judge and the per diem for JPs to be withheld until a budget for the new year is passed. So in brief, the JPs (not all, but most) will be allowing a county judge they dislike to be paid while the county judge, who likely appreciates once again getting paid, doesn’t think he should be getting a paycheck if he’s following state law.
See, a score card is totally lacking when it comes to this quagmire.