Closing arguments in a decade-long case between the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority and the state of Mississippi wrapped Wednesday.
The case started in 2016 over a new law passed by the Legislature and signed by then-Gov. Phil Bryant to abolish the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority and replace it with a regional authority.
The parties squared off for the last week-and-a-half in a federal bench trial, meaning no jury, before U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves. Reeves said that he will accept post trial findings from both sides over the next 60 days before making a ruling.
The city of Jackson and the municipal authority that currently oversees the airport argued that the legislation was racially discriminatory and unfairly targeted the state’s largest city, which is majority Black, in violation of the U.S. and state constitutions.
LaToya Merritt, an attorney representing the Jackson airport authority, said the bill was an “unconstitutional effort” to take control of the airport.
The state says that the law was not racially motivated and that the new board would bring more economic development to the airport and help it contend with new business challenges.
Senate Bill 2162, authored by Sen. Josh Harkins, a Republican from Flowood, would dissolve the current five-person board of commissioners appointed by the city and create a nine-person board largely appointed by state and county entities.
The Mississippi National Guard, the Mississippi Development Authority, the lieutenant governor, Madison County and Rankin County would each appoint one member while the city of Jackson and the governor would each appoint two. The governor and lieutenant governor’s appointees would have to be from Jackson.
Jackson City Attorney Drew Martin argued that the law is part of a larger pattern of the state taking away power and property from the majority Black city. He pointed to testimony from Jackson Mayor John Horhn, Rep. Robert Johnson and Byron Orey, a political science professor at Jackson State University, who all said the legislation was racially motivated.
Martin added that taking power of appointment away from the city, which is 80% Black, would effectively dilute the voice and vote of Jacksonians.
Assistant Attorney General Justin Matheny said the law was passed based on “legitimate, non-racial” reasons and went through the proper legislative process. He pointed to legislative debates at the time where lawmakers said rising fares and the need to grow economic development around the airport necessitated the board change.
As to why the law does not include other airports, such as in Gulfport-Biloxi or the Golden Triangle, Matheny argued that the Jackson airport, which has the most commercial passengers, is not like other airports due to its size and economic and military importance.
Jackson owns the airport land but it is located in Rankin County. Last year Jackson reached an agreement with two Rankin County cities over land surrounding the airport. Under the agreement, Flowood and Pearl can annex unincorporated Jackson land with the goal of attracting economic development to the area.
Judge Reeves thanked both sides for a “spirited debate.” He closed by saying that the case has been back and forth on appeals and he was “pretty sure that whatever decision this court makes will be reviewed.”
