Credit: Courtesy of Julius Hall
Credit: Courtesy of Julius Hall
Disqualified Port Wentworth mayoral candidate Julius Hall plans to refile his appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court after the court clerk confirmed Hall's appeal was dismissed because he used the incorrect application.
The paperwork snafu led the state's high court to decline to hear Hall's case for reinstatement. The clerk's office said the Georgia Supreme Court would consider the case should Hall refile using the correct documents.
Hall said he plans on refiling the appeal soon, but that he is "not going to make it for this term," meaning in time for the Nov. 2 election.
"I'm looking for clarification at this point," said Hall.
Hall had filed the appeal as well as a motion to have his name returned to the ballot while the appeal played out. Both cases were dismissed according to a court document issued Oct. 8.
Hall's appeal followed a Chatham County Superior Court ruling against him on Sept. 27. Judge Lisa Colbert affirmed a previous decision by the Port Wentworth superintendent of elections, Shanta Scarboro, to disqualify Hall from the race based on a Georgia law that states a convicted felon must have their civil and political rights restored as well as have 10 years elapse from the end of their sentence in order to run for public office.
Julius Hall Supreme Court A... by savannahnow.com
Though Hall successfully petitioned to have his rights restored by the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles earlier this year, his supervised release ended in 2016. Hall was released from federal prison in 2013 after being sentenced in 1991 for being embroiled in a cocaine conspiracy as a Savannah police officer.
The fact that Hall had not satisfied both purported requirements of the law to run for office led a Port Wentworth resident, Jodi Hawks, to file a complaint challenging Hall's candidacy..
Hawks filed the complaint in August, citing the aforementioned law Article 2 section 2 paragraph III after Hall had qualified as the only mayoral candidate running against incumbent Gary Norton.
The law states: "no person...who has been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude, unless that person's civil rights have been restored and at least ten years have elapsed from the date of the completion of the sentence without a subsequent conviction of another felony involving moral turpitude...shall be eligible to hold any office or appointment of honor or trust in this state."
Hall said there is "too much confusion with the rules, regulations and eligibility requirements," as his restoration of rights document did not clearly state there is an additional 10-year requirement.
A year ago, another candidate on the local ballot was disqualified from running based on the same law. Tony Riley, who ran for Chatham County Commission, argued that his crime - conspiracy to distribute cocaine - did not meet the "felony of moral turpitude" standard cited in the law. His appeals failed.
"Some people think that they don't need the restoration of rights order ... some think that moral turpitude does not apply to them," said Hall, "Georgia needs to clear all this up."
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: Julius Hall to refile Georgia Supreme Court appeal; says he 'won't make it' on ballot
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