Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Attorneys are arguing over whether the Mississippi Supreme Court should second-guess a circuit judge's ruling that affects education funding proposals on the ballot this November.

The citizen-led Initiative 42 would require lawmakers to fund "an adequate and efficient system of free public schools." People could appeal to court if funding falls short.

The Legislature put an alternative, Initiative 42-A, on the ballot. It originally said lawmakers must fund "an effective system of free public schools."

Circuit Judge Winston Kidd on April 2 rewrote the title of 42-A to say the Legislature should fund "effective public schools" but specify there's no court appeal.

Legislative leaders are asking the Supreme Court to reject Kidd's decision. Lawyers for an Oxford parent say state law doesn't allow an appeal of Kidd's ruling.