City of Leeds v. Barefield

The City of Leeds (hereinafter “the City”) filed this petition for a writ of mandamus requesting us to direct Judge David N. Lichtenstein to rescind his order reinstating John Bino Barefield’s de novo appeal from the Leeds Municipal Court.

In March 2000, Barefield was convicted in municipal court of driving under the influence. He appealed to the circuit court for a trial de novo, and the case was assigned to Judge Michael McCormick. In October 2000, on the date that Bare-field’s case was set for trial, he failed to appear for the trial docket. Judge McCormick dismissed the case, and it was…