N.C. beauty queen case back in court
More evidence, closing arguments to be heard Thursday
September 12, 2002 Posted: 9:53 AM EDT (1353 GMT)
A judge is to hear more evidence and closing arguments Thursday in the effort by Rebekah Revels, left, to be reinstated as Miss North Carolina. Runner-up Misty Clymer speaks with her here in Atlantic City.
WILMINGTON, North Carolina (AP) -- A North Carolina beauty queen is waiting to see if her legal briefs -- not her looks and talent -- are good enough to keep her in the Miss America pageant.
Rebekah Revels' royal reign as one of two dueling Miss North Carolinas expired at midnight Wednesday after U.S. District Court Judge James Fox refused to extend a temporary restraining order.
Revels claims she was unfairly forced to resign in July when a former boyfriend told pageant officials he had two topless snapshots of her. Misty Clymer, 24, then also assumed the title of Miss North Carolina.
Fox said he'll hear more evidence and closing arguments Thursday, then issue a decision from the bench that would determine whether Revels continues to compete.
"It is going to be made in haste," said Fox, who goes on a Canadian vacation next week and will be gone during the September 21 finals of the pageant. "The legal issues that you have presented are complex."
Revels, 24, has asked Fox for an order that would compel the Miss America Organization to recognize her as a contestant. Her request is part of a civil lawsuit against the organization.
Revels has been accepted at the pageant along with Clymer since Friday, when pageant officials received court papers ordering that Revels participate.
Revels also has lawsuits pending against the Miss North Carolina pageant, which was ordered by a state judge to restore her title and contract. And she has sued the boyfriend.
Earlier Wednesday, Revels said she would be disappointed if the judge ruled against her. "But I've been prepared to pack up and leave since I arrived," she said.
George Bauer, interim president of the Miss America Organization, said after the hearing that Revels would not be removed immediately. Her lawyer, Barry Nakell, had expressed concerns that she might be escorted from her hotel room at midnight.
"The Miss America Organization will treat Rebekah Revels with every courtesy and treat her as a VIP guest," Bauer said.
A pageant spokesman said Revels will be permitted to rehearse, eat lunch and participate in a scheduled meeting between contestants and New Jersey schoolchildren. Spokesman Steve McKay would not say if she would still be considered a contestant or be introduced as Miss North Carolina.
In testimony Wednesday, Bauer said it would be very difficult to continue with two contestants from North Carolina. Earlier in the court appearances, Fox also said it wasn't practical to have more than one contestant from a state.
On Tuesday, Revels admitted that she resigned, but said she didn't feel it was voluntary. She said she was given the choice of quitting or being fired.
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Two Miss North Carolinas both practicing for the pageant?
