A Fulton County Superior Court judge Wednesday denied a request by eight former and current Southern Christian Leadership Conference chapter leaders to block any action the organization takes at its national convention, which begins Thursday in Florida.
A complaint filed a day earlier had sought to have any official business declared "null and void" and asked the court to declare Isaac Newton Farris Jr. the "lawful" president of the Atlanta-based civil rights organization. Only one side attended the emergency hearing, a fact that concerned Judge Robert C.I. McBurney, who questioned whether an "equitable" decision could be made with only one side present.
He said it was possible representatives of SCLC were on their way to the conference and may have received notice of the hearing too late. He wanted to give them a chance to present their case.
The plaintiffs contend the SCLC violated state law and its own Constitution by holding the convention in July and removing Farris, who attended the hearing with his sister, Angela Farris Watkins.
The issue of timing was of critical importance to McBurney, who also asked Atlanta attorney Roderick E. Edmond, who represented the plaintiffs, why they waited so long to file the complaint and request a hearing. The plaintiffs reported they only learned of the date of the convention a few weeks ago, but McBurney said it was reported in the media much earlier.
"It's not just the 11th hour but the 11th hour and 59 minutes," he said.
McBurney said he wasn't ruling the plaintiff's case was without merit but thought a more equitable hearing could be held with all parties present at a later date.
Plaintiff Trina Baynes, president of the Henry County chapter, said she was pleased with the ruling.
"We remain hopeful," she said. "Based on what the judge said, whatever harm is done to the organization is repairable."
SCLC spokesman Maynard Eaton said, "Justice has been served and ultimately, justice will be served."
About the Author
