In Re: Contest of the Municipal General Election for the Ward 4 Alderman Seat for the City of Coldwater, Mississippi…

Summary

The court held that a default judgment cannot be entered in a general election contest because the governing statute requires the designated judge to hold a hearing after providing reasonable notice. It also held that the contestant's prolonged failure to prosecute the contest required dismissal with prejudice, reinstatement of Hayes, and reversal of the default judgment.