Last Updated: September 10, 2010 at 1:40 PM

Berger v. Barbour

Case Information

Date Filed: January 1, 2008
State: Mississippi
Issues: Voting Technology, Ballot Access
Courts that Heard this Case: Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County (Case 251-08-694CIV); Mississippi Supreme Court (Case 2008-M-01534-SCT)

Issue:

Whether the Mississippi special election between Republican Roger Wicker and Democrat Ronnie Musgrove for the Senate should appear near the top of the November 4th, so as to appear next to other federal races, or whether it should appear at the bottom of the ballot so as to clearly distinguish the race as a "special election." 

Status:

Plaintiff filed her Complaint with the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County.  The Circuit Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on 9/10/08; however, the Defendants successfully applied to the Mississippi Supreme Court to have the TRO set aside.  The Circuit Court subsequently ordered the Defendants to put the Senate race near the top of the ballot on 9/12/08.  The Defendants have appealed this order to the Mississippi Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court ruled that placement of the race at the bottom of the ballot was illegal, but they did not order the governor to change the ballot.  Governor Barbour has agreed to move the race to the top of the ballot.  

Supreme Court Documents

• Motion # 2008 - 2599 Petition for Extraordinary Writ Vacating and Setting Aside Temporary Restraining Order, or in the Alternative for Interlocutory Appeal with Immediately Stay, and for Other Relief (filed 9/10/08)
• Order Entered Motion # 2008 - 2599 (entered 9/10/08)
• Motion # 2008 - 2639 Petition for Extraordinary Writ Vacating Writ of Mandamus, Reversing and Rendering Declaratory Judgment, and Motion to Suspend the Rules, for Emergency Stay, and for Other Relief (filed 9/12/08)
• Order Entered (entered 9/12/08)
• Response filed Motion # 2008 - 2639 (filed 9/15/08)
• Motion - 2008-2639 - Brief of Amicus Curiae State of Mississippi (filed 9/15/08)
• Response filed Motion # 2008 - 2639 (filed 9/15/08)
• Order Entered (entered 9/16/08)
• Case Argued and Submitted (filed 9/17/08)
• En Banc Order (entered 9/18/08)

Circuit Court Documents

• Declaratory Judgement and Order (filed 9/12/08)

Related EL@M Stories

• Miss. gov agrees to move Senate race up on ballot, AP Wire, 9/18/08
• Officials: Clock ticking on ballot decision, Clarion Ledger (MS), 9/18/08
• Temporary block on disputed Mississippi ballot lifted, Sun Herald (MS), 9/10/08
• Editorial: Mississippi’s Ballot Trick, New York Times, 9/10/08