Ex Parte Swoope

The petitioner, Christopher B. Swoope, filed this petition for a writ of mandamus directing the Honorable Steve Haddock, circuit judge for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, to reinstate Swoope's de novo appeal. Swoope was convicted in the Decatur Municipal Court of harassment, and he appealed for a trial de novo in the Morgan Circuit Court. Swoope's trial was originally set for June 22, 1998. The date was continued to June 25, 1998, at 9:00 a.m. When Swoope failed to appear for trial, Judge Haddock dismissed the appeal. Swoope filed a motion to set aside the order of dismissal, arguing that he was…