The deliberate gears of justice have begun turning on the lawsuit over Farnell Road.

District Judge Fred Steagall of Dale County, presided over the first hearing of the case at the Pike County Courthouse Friday.

Steagall heard arguments on a motion to intervene that was filed by Larry Gardener, legal counsel for a number of residents around Farnell Road.

Attorney Grady Reeves is representing plaintiffs in the case, landowners who are suing the Pike County Commission for the right to vacate and effectively close the road.

Reeves presented his argument first, elaborating on reasoning he wrote in his opposition to the Motion to Intervene.

“Unless they can show the court they are denied reasonable access to their property, they don’t have standing to intervene,” Reeves told the judge.

County Attorney Allen Jones had no objection to the intervention.

“We find no reason why they shouldn’t intervene,’ Jones said.

Gardener then used a map to show the judge where his clients reside relative to Farnell Road and why he thought they should be permitted to intervene in the trial.

He said he would like to file an answer to the opposition motion of Reeves, to which Steagall gave him seven days to complete.

Steagall said that upon receiving those citations he would review all the arguments on the motion and make a ruling.

The decision of the judge will determine which parties are authorized to participate in the lawsuit.