Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin today dismissed a lawsuit filed by Nancy Worley over leadership of the Alabama Democratic Party, ruling that he had no jurisdiction to settle a party dispute.

The decision is a victory for party members who voted last year to replace Worley as party chair.

Worley filed the lawsuit in an unsuccessful effort to block the meeting where Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa was elected to replace her. Issues remaining in the case include the question of who was now the legitimate chair of the party.

England and his backers had asked Griffin to dismiss the case, arguing that the court did not have jurisdiction.

“I’m glad that this is behind us and now we can start working together to get Democrats elected up and down the ballot,” England said today after the ruling.

Worley said the case might not be over.

“We will discuss an appeal and we will also look at the possibility of a federal case,” she said in a text message.

House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels of Huntsville said Griffin’s ruling today made it a good day for the Democratic Party. Daniels supported the change in party leadership.

Griffin had said in court last week that he was leaning toward ruling that he did have jurisdiction but decided differently in a one-page order today.

“This Court lacks jurisdiction over what appears to be an intra-political-party dispute regarding the officer elections and governance of the Alabama Democratic Party,” Griffin wrote. “As a result, this case is DISMISSED.”

Worley and her supporters had argued that the court had jurisdiction and urged Griffin to allow the case to proceed.

The dispute goes back to at least August 2018, when the State Democratic Executive Committee reelected Worley as chair, a position she had held since 2013. Worley defeated a candidate backed by U.S. Sen. Doug Jones.

Some members of the SDEC filed complaints with the Democratic National Committee over how the election was conducted. The DNC determined there were irregularities and ordered the party to hold a new election and approve new bylaws. The DNC set deadlines that passed.

Jones helped organize efforts by SDEC members who wanted to replace Worley. They met on Nov. 2 and voted to elect England as chair and former state Rep. Patricia Todd as first vice chair.

Worley and her supporters, including longtime party leader Joe Reed, have maintained that Worley was reelected at a Nov. 16 meeting attended by a different faction of the SDEC.

The Democratic National Committee supported England’s side in the dispute and recognizes him as the party chair.

England has been functioning as chair and certified the parties candidates for Tuesday’s primary.

This story will be updated.