By JEFF AMY
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A federal judge says he will likely send claims that a Mississippi utility overcharged its customers back to state court.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves on Thursday told lawyers that he'll issue a written ruling on returning the case to Hinds County Chancery Court by Friday.

That's where Attorney General Jim Hood first sued Entergy Mississippi in 2008. Hood repeatedly asked a previous judge to return the case to state court, but now argues it should stay in federal court. The unit of New Orleans-based Entergy Corp. also wants to stay in federal court.

Reeves started a trial on Monday, with Hood arguing Entergy owes up to $2 billion in damages and interest to 447,000 Mississippi customers. But Reeves began questioning his jurisdiction to hear the case after opening arguments.

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