(CNN) -Mississippi's Supreme Court on Thursday heard challenges to the scores of controversial pardons issued by former Gov. Haley Barbour on his way out of office, peppering lawyers with questions but making no immediate ruling.
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, who argued the pardons were unconstitutional, called it "the longest hour and a half I've ever been through in my life."
"I'm confident in the position we've taken," Hood told reporters after the hearing. "Now whether or not the court accepts our argument, I'm not sure."
The justices are expected to decide whether the pardons can be challenged. If the court rules against pardons, a lower court would be asked to hold hearings on each individual case.
"I think well-reasoned and well-thought-out arguments were made on both sides," said Tom Fortner, a lawyer for four of the former prisoners. "The justices asked some really good questions, really hard questions. I think they've got a big decision to make, and it's up to them now."
As he closed out his second term as governor, Barbour granted "full pardons" -- meaning the convict's record is effectively wiped clean -- to more than 200 people found guilty of various crimes. Among the group were four men convicted of murder. The four had been working as "trusties" at the governor's mansion, and their release from state custody caused an outrage -- particularly among relatives of the pardoned murderers' victims.
"It's just an every minute, constant, in the back of your mind, where is he? What is he doing?" said Mary McAbee, sister of Rick Montgomery, a store clerk shot to death by Joseph Ozment in 1992. Ozment pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole until the pardon.
"I'm fearful. He's a cold-blooded murderer to do what he's done, and if he thinks that he may go back to prison what's he got to lose?" she said.
Hood argued that the pardons were unconstitutional, because most of the inmates involved did not fulfill all of the required steps, and that Barbour failed to give the public 30 days' notice before granting the pardons.
Tiffany Ellis Brewer is also concerned. Her sister, Tammy Gatlin, was shot and killed by David Gatlin.
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