A State Supreme Court Judge ruled Tuesday in favor of the elected officials challenging Assemblyman Jose Rivera for control of the Bronx Democratic Party.

Barring any additional legal developments — an appeal is possible — Assemblyman Carl Heastie, who was supported by a diverse group of Bronx elected officials will lead the party.

The court case centered on the raucous events of Sept. 28 at the Utopia Paradise Theatre, where both factions held meetings.

Each group’s meeting was challenged as illegitimate by the other.

However, the Rainbow Rebels, as Heastie’s insurgent faction has been dubbed, appeared to have covered their bases by making their supporters sign official registration books provided by the Board of Elections, following meeting rules and employing a stenographer to record the proceedings. The Rebels conducted their meeting following a hastily-staged meeting led by Council Member Maria Baez and other Rivera supporters.

With a week of testimony and expert witnesses from both sides to guide him, Justice Robert G. Seewald wrote in his decision: “… [T]he court finds that the organizational meeting conducted by Heastie as Chair was valid. Heastie’s actions are found to be reasonable under the circumstances and were in accordance with the rules of the Bronx Democratic Party and Robert’s Rules of Order. Heastie acted in a manner to safeguard and not to abridge the voting rights of the County Committee members who came to the Theater to vote.

The Norwood News will report on the decision, which we received at press time, in greater detail in our next issue and on the West Bronx Blog (westbronxnews.blogpsot.com) in the coming days.