Why would the courts have to decide who the governor was in 1947

The correct answer is the following.

In March 1947, the Supreme Court of Georgia had to settle the controversy called "the three governors controversy" in the state of Georgia.

The elected governor Eugene Talmadge, died. His political supporters asked the legislature of Georgia to elect a new Governor in January 1947. The General Assembly elected Herman Talmadge as the new Governor, but lieutenant governor Melvin E. Thompson claimed the office because he considered he had the right. But the problem became more critical because former governor Allis Amall refused to leave office. That is why, in March 1947, the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that Melvin E. Thompson was the official governor.