Burwell v. Griffin

VAUGHN, Chief Judge.

Before turning to the central issue of this appeal, that is, whether defendants abided by the procedures associated with plaintiffs’ demotions, we must first address the threshold question *203of whether Judge Hobgood’s order is currently appealable or whether plaintiffs have brought this appeal prematurely. Plaintiffs’ first two assignments of error relate to appealability. Plaintiffs contend that Judge Hobgood’s order is appealable because it affects a substantial right or, alternatively, because it determines the merits of the action.

Ordinarily, an appeal lies only from a…