Overview

• Superior Court Judge David Emerson held the Democratic-led Board of Commissioners in civil contempt on Aug. 27 for not appointing Julie Adams and Jason Frazier as previously ordered.
• The order requires $10,000 per day to be paid to the state starting at noon Friday until the appointments occur and awards the county GOP its legal fees after a finding of bad faith.
• Commissioners voted 5-2 in May to reject the nominees and tied 2-2 along party lines last week after three members were absent, blocking the appointments.
• County lawyers argue the board is preserving appellate rights to avoid mooting its appeal, while some Democratic commissioners have said they would accept penalties rather than vote to seat the nominees.
• Emerson’s earlier ruling interpreted “shall” in the statute as mandatory, concluding the commission lacks discretion to disapprove qualified party nominees.