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NATCHEZ — Sixth District Circuit Court Judge Carmen Drake ruled on Friday in favor of the owners of the Truth Lounge in its appeal of a decision by the Natchez Board of Aldermen.

The Truth Lounge, owned by Rickey Banks and David Haywood, opened in the spring of 2023 after being given a special exception to operate by the Natchez Planning Commission. However, after a series of issues revolving around the lounge located at 719-1/2 Franklin St., the planning commission on April 25, 2024, voted 4 to 3 to revoke the special exception to operate, effectively closing The Truth Lounge.

Banks and Haywood appealed the planning commission’s decision to the Board of Aldermen, who on June 18, 2024, upheld the planning commission’s action in a 3-2 vote.

In essence, Drake ruled that the Natchez Planning Commission does not have the authority to revoke a special exception to operate once granted.

Drake wrote in her decision that “the Board of Aldermen’s actions were arbitrary and capricious and unsupported by substantial evidence, as the Planning Commission acted outside of its apparent authority. The decision of the Board of Aldermen to ratify the Planning Commission’s revocation of the Truth Lounge special exception is hearby reversed and remanded for proceedings consistent with this order.”

On Saturday evening, Banks and Haywood said Drake’s ruling means they can reopen Truth Lounge immediately, “but we are not in a rush. We have no immediate plans,” Haywood said.

“We just appreciate the judicial system in being fair and realizing what took place didn’t have anything to do with Truth Lounge and was truly out of our control,” Banks said. “We have been screaming that since day one. Truth Lounge was not the problem.”

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said Saturday night that he cannot comment on Drake’s decision.