A challenge has been filed with the Mississippi Supreme Court over an eminent-domain ballot initiative.

Jackson businessman Leland Speed Monday appealed a ruling
handed down Friday by Hinds County Circuit Judge Winston Kidd.

The judge ruled that an initiative to restrict eminent domain
can go on the Nov. 8 ballot in Mississippi. Eminent domain is the
process governments use to take land from citizens for projects.

Speed is director of the state economic development agency but
was acting as a private citizen when he filed a lawsuit seeking to
block the ballot measure. He argues that the measure would
improperly alter the state constitution's bill of rights.

The initiative, sponsored by the Mississippi Farm Bureau
Federation, would ban the taking of private land for private
developments.