Fulton County Board of Commissioners Defies Court Order on GOP Election Nominees

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners has once again failed to comply with a court order to confirm two Republican nominees for the county’s elections board, escalating tensions between local officials and the Republican Party of Fulton County.

In May, the Republican Party nominated Julie Adams and Jason Frazier to serve on the elections board. State law mandates that county commissioners must accept these appointments, but the Democrat-led board has resisted, citing concerns over the nominees’ election integrity efforts.

Despite a lawsuit filed by the Fulton County GOP in June, which resulted in a favorable ruling from the court in early August, the commissioners have continued to refuse compliance. On August 16, Fulton County Superior Court Judge David Emerson ordered the board to confirm Adams and Frazier at their next regularly scheduled meeting, describing the board’s actions as a “bad faith” stall tactic.

“The court directs the defendant board to comply with its order,” Emerson wrote in his ruling.

Following this directive, the board filed a motion asking the court to reconsider its decision. However, this motion was denied by the Georgia Court of Appeals shortly thereafter.

On August 22, during a board meeting, the commissioners voted 2-2 on a motion by Republican Commissioner Bridget Thorne to confirm the nominees, with three members absent. Thorne argued that the ongoing delay was causing “irreparable harm,” especially with an upcoming special election for a state senate seat.

“There are elections happening right now and our representation is being denied,” said Fulton County GOP Chair Stephanie Endres, echoing Thorne’s concerns.

In response to the motion, Democrat Commissioner Dana Barrett stated that “no judge” could compel her to approve the nominations, asserting her willingness to face potential legal consequences. “I respect the rule of law, but I will not be forced into a vote,” Barrett said.

Her colleague, Democrat Commissioner Mo Ivory, added that no official should be forced to cast a particular vote, emphasizing the importance of individual discretion in the electoral process.

After the vote, Jason Frazier expressed disappointment in the board’s decision, stating, “My only goal is to help Fulton County follow election laws and run clean elections.”

Julie Adams remarked, “The Fulton Board of Commissioners was ordered to comply with the order of the court on Friday or risk being held in contempt. Today, they defied that order.”

In response to the ongoing defiance, the Fulton County GOP filed a motion on August 24 asking the court to hold the commissioners in both civil and criminal contempt. Under Georgia law, local officials can face misdemeanor charges for deliberately delaying legal proceedings, which may result in removal from office.

The situation has drawn attention to the broader implications of local governance and election integrity in Georgia, as the state continues to navigate contentious political landscapes. The Fulton County Board’s actions have sparked debate about adherence to the rule of law and the responsibilities of elected officials to uphold legal directives.