SUPER MAJORITY RULING

May 12th, 2003

Mobile County Circuit Judge Ferrell McRae has ruled that Mobile's budget was passed legally because it needed approval from a simple majority of Council members - not a so called super majority. The ruling contradicts an earlier Alabama Attorney General's opinion that said a super majority, or five of seven votes is required to approve the budget.

In his ruling, the judge called the Attorney General's opinion incorrect, noting that in a "A majority of seven is four".

The judge's ruling was in response to a complaint filed by a local attorney against City Council President, Reggie Copeland. The 2003 Mobile General Fund Budget passed on a 4-3 vote.