Hightower v. Muscogee County School District

McMurray, Presiding Judge. The case before this Court emanated from movant Hightower having been barred, as part of disciplinary measures for infraction of a student conduct rule, from “marching” with his classmates to receive their respective high school diplomas publicly in Columbus, Georgia, although movant did receive his diploma privately. Movant sought through administrative channels to be allowed to participate in the graduation exercises with his classmates. He was granted a supersedeas which would allow him the privilege of “marching” with his classmates. Upon appeal to the Superior Court of Muscogee County of the State Board of Education’s decision granting the movant the supersedeas, the superior court on May 31, 1986, at 12:00 noon, reversed the decision of the State Board of Education and thus movant would not be permitted to “march” or participate in the high school graduation public ceremony. Movant then sought and obtained, at approximately 5:45 p.m. on May 31, 1986, in the metropolitan Atlanta area, an order from a Judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia staying the order of the Superior Court of Muscogee County. The effect of the staying of the superior court’s order would thus allow movant to “march” or participate in the high school graduation public ceremony to be held on the same date at approximately 8:00 p.m. or alternatively the public ceremony would be postponed and delayed until movant’s “appeal” was heard and decided. Movant brings a motion for contempt of court praying that respondents be held in contempt of this Court since the graduation exercises were conducted as scheduled and movant was not permitted to [270] “march” or participate in the high school graduation public ceremony in defiance of this Court’s order. Held: In a proceeding of the nature of the case sub judice an evidentiary hearing must be conducted and a panel of three judges did conduct such a hearing. This case was most recently considered by the whole court and a majority opinion, together with two separate special concurrences, and a dissent were rendered and issued on December 5, 1986. Upon its own motion and upon further consideration by the whole court, a majority of this court was of the view that inasmuch as this case is a contempt proceeding and a panel consisting of three judges of this court has heard evidence in the case, it was deemed appropriate that only the original panel of three judges, who heard the evidence and witnessed the demeanor of the parties and witnesses testifying, act as the trier of facts and participate in the decision. Consequently, the previous judgment of this court dated December 5, 1986, has been ordered vacated and the majority opinion, together with the two separate special concurrences and the dissent, all rendered and issued the same date, have been ordered withdrawn. The issue in the case sub judice is whether any rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable doubt that respondents wilfully violated a lawful order of this Court. See In re Irvin, 254 Ga. 251, 254 (328 SE2d 215). We acknowledge and reaffirm this Court’s power to enforce its lawful orders and to impose penalties for the wilfull disobedience thereof. See In re Fite, 11 Ga. App. 665 (76 SE 397). However, under the particular facts and totality of the circumstances of the case sub judice we are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that movant is entitled to prevail on his motion seeking to have respondents held in contempt of this Court. It is the order of this Court that the redress sought by movant in his motion be denied and said motion is hereby overruled. Motion overruled. Birdsong, P. J., concurs. Parley, J., dissents.