Chattanooga: Circuit Court judge rules petitioners can intervene in recall lawsuit Littlefield filed against Hamilton County Election Commission

photo Staff photo by Jake Daniels/Chattanooga Times Free Press -- Sep 3, 2010 Judge Jeff Hollingsworth debates statutes with attorneys during Friday morning's hearing. Attorneys representing Mayor Ron Littlefield and petitioners met in Judge Hollingsworth's courtroom on Friday for a preliminary hearing about the petition to recall Mayor Littlefield.

Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth ruled today the recall petitioners could intervene in a lawsuit filed by Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield against the Hamilton County Election Commission.

Littlefield filed the lawsuit earlier this week to stop a recall election from happening in November. Jim Folkner, with Citizens to Recall Mayor Littlefield, filed a motion to intervene in the case on behalf of the petitioners.

Three groups - Citizens to Recall Mayor Littlefield, the Chattanooga Tea Party and Chattanooga Organized for Action - gathered more than 9,000 signatures to force a recall under the City Charter.

A final hearing on the matter is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The city of Chattanooga also will be able to intervene in the court case after all parties agreed it could on Thursday, officials said.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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