Ford And Fellow Senators Appear In Federal Court

WTVF.com
January 25, 2006


Wednesday, Sen. Ophelia Ford was in a federal courtroom in Memphis fighting to keep her State Senate seat, but even though only three senators were subpoena to be there, more than half of the State Senate showed up in Memphis.

Senators were supposed to be debating an ethics bill on Wednesday, but they went to support their colleagues in Memphis. More than half of Tennessee’s state Senators, 16 Republicans and one Democrat went the federal courthouse in Memphis.

Tennessee State Senators, Mark Norris, Curtis Person and Don McLeary were subpoenaed to appear in court, and ordered to attend. All the others came voluntarily.

All of them voted to void the election of Sen. Ford.

“I feel good, and I feel like the judge will be fair,” said Sen. Ford on Wednesday morning on her way into the courthouse.

The Memphis senator sued the entire Senate after they voted to void her special election. In court she sat behind her attorneys as the Attorney General for the state of Tennessee argues against her suit and on behalf of the state senators.

Paul Summer told Judge Bernice Donald that the Senate had not even taken final action to void Ford’s election. Saying, therefore it is wrong for the court to intervene.

Meanwhile, all 17 senators sat off to the side watching the entire hearing.

Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey said this morning before the hearing that he'll push for the second vote to throw out the election unless the court extends its restraining order.