MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - The school vote will go on as scheduled, whether your vote will mean anything in the end is another question.
After a day-long hearing, U.S. District Judge Samuel "Hardy" Mays ruled Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington can move forward with municipal school referendums.
But the news isn't all good news for those wanting to start their own districts.
"I don't think we will be claiming any monumental victory today with what Judge Mays has ruled, but it doesn't stop us right here," said Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner. "Obviously, this is not over by any stretch of the imagination."
The Shelby County Commission sued to stop the vote late last month, arguing the state law allowing municipal districts is unconstitutional.
Mays declined to stop the vote, with absentee ballots already out, and early voting set to start on Friday. However, Mays has yet to weigh in on if the state law is unconstitutional.
"He says if it is unconstitutional he won't hesitate to void any results and stop anything from going forward, so that's kind of where we are," said Allan Wade, attorney for the City of Memphis.
"We know that there are still going to be hearings held, we got to ensure this judge feels comfortable about the constitutionality of these statutes, but we do feel good," said David Pickler, a Unified School Board member. "We were not able to bring all of our evidence out, all of our big guns out, so that conversation will happen another day."
Mays told all sides to head back to court at 9:30 a.m. on Friday to schedule a trial on the constitutionality of the law. Judge Mays said he didn't anticipate a long trial, but was inclined to delay releasing a ruling until after the August 2nd referendum vote.
