Judge denies final judgment request in water war

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – A federal judge Monday denied Georgia's request for a final judgment in its water war with Alabama and Florida.

In July, US District Judge Paul Magnuson said Georgia has been illegally tapping water from Lake Lanier. He also told the state, Alabama and Florida to find a way to share Lanier.

However, Georgia wanted Magnuson to make his order a final judgment. That would help Georgia convince a federal court to hear its appeal of Magnuson's order.
On Monday, Magnuson said no. WABE legal analyst and defense attorney Page Pate.

PATE: "The court's hoping that everybody can get together and their can be some legislative remedy to the problem without keeping this matter in court."

Governor Perdue wants to talk with Alabama and Florida. But he also doesn't want to put all his eggs in one basket. Bert Brantley is Perdue's spokesperson.

BRANTLEY: "We want to come to an agreement. We're working hard towards that but we have to keep our legal options open."

Georgia's federal appeal is pending.