On Monday, Judge Collins Pettaway sided with the Selma City Council in regard to appointment powers relevant to Selma Police Chief, Selma Fire Chief and City Tax Assessor.

Mayor Darrio Melton has stated that he plans to appeal the ruling, so it may be weeks before the ongoing conflict is finally resolved.

For attorney Julian McPhillips, who is currently representing ousted city Treasurer Ronita Wade, the ruling could be a boon for his case.

“I think that is going to help us a whole lot,” McPhillips said. “It’s a ruling that I plan to use in my case.”

According to McPhillips, the fact that appointment powers for the three positions discussed in court Monday were deemed within the council’s power means that the council likely has similar powers in regard to appointing a treasurer for the city.

In fact, McPhillips believes the council’s appointment power for City Treasurer are better defined than powers to appoint other positions.

Appointment powers for City Treasurer and City Clerk are all under the council’s jurisdiction, according to Pettaway during Monday’s hearing, and the judge’s ruling indicates that the mayor had no power to remove Wade from her position.

The council has already voted to reinstate the city treasurer but, to date, Wade has not returned to work.

McPhillips is gearing up for another hearing on Jan. 29 and filed a motion to expedite on behalf of the three indicted Selma Police Department (SPD) officers and former Parks and Recreation Department employee Carneetie Ellison.

“We’re demanding personnel board hearings and to get these employees back to work,” McPhillips said.