New London — Deadlines for legal briefs were issued by a judge this week as part of the city’s attempt to fight the rehiring of fired New London Police Officer Thomas Northup.

The state Board of Mediation and Arbitration in October ruled the city did not have just cause to terminate Northup on March 22, 2012, for use of excessive and unreasonable force when he shot and wounded the unarmed driver of a stolen ice truck in 2011.

On Nov. 21, the city filed an application to dismiss the board’s decision, claiming “arbitrators were guilty of misconduct by refusing to hear evidence pertinent and material to the controversy or by other actions by which the rights of the City of New London have been prejudiced.”

Representatives from Northup’s union, AFSCME Council 15, Local 724, are defending the ruling and filed an application to confirm the arbitrator’s award.

At a hearing held on Dec. 23, Judge Leeland J. Cole-Chu set a Jan. 31 deadline for the city, represented by Brian Estep, to file a legal brief, according to court records. The union, named as the defendant, will have until Feb. 14 to reply. The city will again have until Feb. 28 to respond to the union’s reply.