JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
The Mississippi Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday in the latest round of the battle over pardons granted by former Governor Haley Barbour. The high court took over the case from Hinds County Circuit Court.
The families of victims say they are glad the Supreme Court will take up the matter. This past Wednesday, the Supreme Court said it would take over the legal challenge of the ex-governor's pardons. Section 124 of the state's Constitution deals with gubernatorial pardons. It says no pardon shall be granted until the applicant has published for 30-days.
Lawyers tell us, one issue justices must consider is whether the inmates applied for the pardon are were simply granted the pardon without having to apply. Initially, family members of victims were concerned about the move but now say they their comfort level has risen greatly.
"I am very pleased the Supreme Court is going to take this up. Obviously, they're going to take it up very quickly, although I don't want them to rush to a judgment. I want them to take their time and get it right. They're going to be the final word," said crime victim Randy Walker.
The mother of one murder victim says they are at the mercy of the high court and its final opinion.
"We don't have any choice. Like we didn't have a choice when we were told that our loved one was gone. There wasn't anything we could do. So we don't have any choice here except to depend on the Supreme Court to bring justice," Betty Ellis said.
The sister of one victim says regardless of the outcome she is hopeful something good can come from the attention that has been put on the pardoning process.
"This is one of the most painful things that a family can go through and it's hard. It's hard to live a normal life when you're having to deal with something like this. And so either way it goes, hopefully something good will come out of it," Tiffany Ellis Brewer said.
The high court will hear the case En Banc, meaning all nine justices will hear the arguments. Each side will be given an hour to present their cases and since it involves Constitutional issues, expect the justices to be deliberate as they formulate the court's opinion, which could come as early as days or as long as weeks. There is a chance the case could go back to the lower court. Attorney General Jim Hood says the high court decides the Constitution was not followed, the case will go back to the lower court for fact-finding.
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