Former Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield

The Tennessee Court of Appeals handed down a decision today saying a Circuit Court judge was wrong in not allowing the Hamilton County Election Commission a chance to certify a petition to oust Mayor Ron Littlefield.

"We find that the trial court acted without jurisdiction," the appeal court's opinion states.

The appeal's court has thrown out the complaint, according to the opinion.

Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth handed down a decision last year stopping a recall question to be placed on the November 2010 ballot. Littlefield had sued, asking the recall be stopped.

Jim Folkner, with Citizens to Recall Mayor Littlefield, appealed the decision, which was handed down today by a three-member appeals court panel.

For more information, read tomorrow's edition of the Times Free Press.