MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Two million dollars and counting, that's how much money has been spent in legal fees in the battle over merging Memphis and Shelby County schools.
The bills are still mounting. Thursday, lawyers from the city, county, state and suburban communities were back in federal court.
Courtroom testimony regarding whether it's constitutional for the suburban schools to create their own school systems is finally over. U.S. District Judge Samuel Mays will rule on the matter sometime after October 4. But don't be fooled; this fight is far from over.
Those on both sides are firing the warning shot: taxpayers get ready to pay even more.
If Judge Mays decides it is constitutional for the suburbs to create school districts, it's not over. There's still part two of the federal lawsuit, which has to do with race and whether municipal schools will lead to a more segregated system.
The judge said that part of the lawsuit will take even longer and will be more costly to everyone involved. The bottom line is this lawsuit could go on for years because it's highly likely neither side will give up. People on all sides admit this case could be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court.
Who knows what the legal bills will be by then.
