Credit: Courtesy of Julius Hall
Credit: Courtesy of Julius Hall
The Chatham County Superior Court on Friday denied disqualified Port Wentworth mayoral candidate Julius Hall's request for an injunction that would have prevented his removal from the Nov. 2 ballot.
Judge Lisa G. Colbert decision comes a day after she heard arguments on the request from Hall’s attorney and those representing the City of Port Wentworth, Chatham County and the Chatham County Board of Elections.
Hall sought the injunction in an effort to keep his name on the ballot while he appeals the decision to disqualify him as a mayoral candidate.
Hall said he planned to file the appeal on Friday. The deadline for then appeal is Sept. 19, according to City of Port Wentworth documents.
Hall qualified for the mayoral race in August and was the only opponent to incumbent Mayor Gary Norton. Hall was disqualified after a Port Wentworth resident, Jodi Hawks, notified the city clerk about a potential restriction to run for local office tied to a past felony conviction.
The complaint cited a state law that bars released felons from running for office for 10 years after the completion of their sentence. Hall was released on Jan. 26, 2016.
Hall spent 25 years in prison for his role in a cocaine conspiracy as a Savannah police officer. In January of this year, he successfully petitioned the Georgia Board of Pardon and Paroles for a restoration of his civil and political rights, including his right to run and hold elected office.
The city's superintendent, Shanta Scarboro, ruled him ineligible, citing a Georgia law that reads, "no person...who has been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude, unless that person's civil rights have been restored and at least 10 years have elapsed from the date of the completion of the sentence...shall be eligible to hold any office or appointment of honor or trust in this state."
The ousted candidate is arguing that his restoration of civil and political rights from pardons and paroles supersedes the 10-year requirement.
There is no timeline for when an appeal hearing will take place yet.
Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Court denies disqualified mayoral candidate Julius Hall's injunction on removal from ballot
