BETHEL – A lawyer representing Bethel’s former police chief will argue Thursday that Darren Tripp should get his job back – along with back pay – because two selectmen were unfairly influenced when they voted to fire the lawman.

Judge Thomas Delahanty is due to hear oral arguments in the case starting at 9 a.m. Thursday at Oxford County Superior Court in Paris.

That suit is separate from a federal suit. In that one, Tripp wants $500,000 as compensation for what he says was a wrongful suspension. It was amended to include his termination later.

It’s that case, says Tripp’s lawyer, Thomas Carey, that unfairly influenced two Bethel selectmen who voted to fire the former chief.

Carey and Geoffrey Hole, who represents Bethel and its town manager, Scott Cole, each said Tuesday that they’re prepared verbally to back up the cases they’ve laid forth in briefs already filed with the state court.

Hole declined comment beyond that, but Carey elaborated a bit.

He said two of Bethel’s selectmen – he didn’t name them – are already on record as saying the previously filed federal lawsuit at least in part influenced their decision to vote with other board members to terminate Tripp’s job.

Selectmen had voted 3-2 on March 11 to uphold Cole’s firing of Tripp.

Carey said such lawsuits are protected actions that should not be taken into consideration when boards or tribunals are deliberating matters such as the chief’s job performance.

He said he’s asking Delahanty to agree with that position, which could result in a ruling favoring Tripp. In that case, Tripp could win back his job and back pay, or at least another hearing and new vote by selectmen.

Carey said he’s also asking the court to decide if two potential witnesses, a county Sheriff’s Department dispatcher and an Oxford Networks technician, should have been allowed to present testimony to selectmen before their vote to fire Tripp.

After hearing the lawyers argue their cases, Delahanty is expected either to issue his ruling from the bench or take the matter under consideration or advisement, then decide it.