Montgomery Circuit Court Judge Greg Griffin told the parties in a dispute over the leadership of the Alabama Democratic Party on Thursday he was "inclined" to rule that he had jurisdiction over the lawsuit.

Griffin said he would review filings in the dispute between a group recognizing Rep. Christopher England, D-Tuscaloosa, as chair of the party in early November, and another recognizing Nancy Worley as chair.

But Griffin — who issued no decision after an hour-long hearing on Thursday morning — made it clear he would need to be persuaded to agree to a motion from the England group attorneys to dismiss the lawsuit, filed by Worley in October.

"I really think you need to work it out," he said. "Now you’re trying to rush me to make decision before the primary. I can’t rush to judgment on something like this."

Griffin's comment represented a victory for Worley's group and a defeat for the England group, who argue the lawsuit should be dismissed. If Griffin rules he has jurisdiction, it could extend the lawsuit up to or past the March 3 primary in Alabama.

Joe Reed, the chair of the Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC) and a longtime power in the state party, said his group would push hard for mediation to settle the dispute.

"It's not going to be settled based on the stuff they're talking about," Reed said after the hearing. "But it can be settled."

The two sides met for mediation on Feb. 6, which did not resolve the dispute. Neither side discussed the outstanding issues on Thursday. Barry Ragsdale, an attorney representing the England group, said mediation "has ended," though he said they were open to discussing it more.

Ragsdale also said the party needed to resolve the dispute before the March 3 primary, saying the Democrats needed to be clear on their leadership to certify results and resolve any disputes that may follow the election.

"It creates uncertainty," he said after the meeting. "We know there are people who are willing to give money to the state party who are hesitant to do that with the lawsuit out there."

Worley's group argues that the England group, which has the backing of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is violating a portion of the Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) that prevents people from fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as the agent of a political party.

Bobby Segall, an attorney speaking for the Worley group, said the lawsuit needed to continue to develop a factual record determining leadership of the party.

"That’s why evidence is needed in this case," he said. "That is the issue. We say they are violating that."

Attorneys for England's group say the issue is an internal party dispute that a court has no jurisdiction over. Alabama Chief Justice Tom Parker, in a ruling related to the case in early January, signaled that he would be reluctant to hear the case again, writing that courts should abstain from ruling on these disputes "unless those disputes involve an alleged violation of a state or federal constitutional provision, statute, or regulations."

More:Alabama Supreme Court sends Democrats' dispute back to lower court

Ragsdale said in court that Worley and her side were trying to nullify the results of internal party decisions that went against them.

"This court should not put itself in position of second guessing what the political party has done for itself," he said. "It's time for us to be allowed to move on this lawsuit impediment, it is an obstacle, and it is due to be dismissed."

That was also the position of John Devaney, an attorney representing the DNC.

"That’s how disputes should be resolved, through a party mechanism and that’s exactly what happened here," he said in court. "What this lawsuit is asking you to do is relitigate matters that have already been resolved by the Democratic National Committee."

The DNC last year ordered the state Democratic Party to hold new leadership elections and to revise its bylaws to provide better representation for Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, youth, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

After a long standoff, and mutual accusations of bad faith, the DNC gave the state party an October deadline to revise its bylaws and hold the elections. When Worley called a meeting to address the DNC orders a week after the deadline set, a majority of State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) members called their own meeting to put new bylaws in place and set new leadership elections for November 2.

Worley sued in late October to stop the meeting, arguing it was improperly called. Griffin initially blocked it, but the Alabama Supreme Court stayed his order a few hours later. The SDEC voted at its Nov. 2 meeting to oust Worley and vice-chair Randy Kelley, and elected England as the new chair of the party. The DNC recognized England as the party’s leader.

More:Mediation expected in Alabama Democratic Party dispute

Worley and Reed, who is the party’s vice-chair for minority affairs, have refused to recognize the election and continued with their suit. England’s faction has taken control of most of the state party’s assets.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com.