A Fulton County judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit from Georgia Democrats that sought to compel Governor Brian Kemp to hold ethics hearings on the conduct of MAGA-aligned members of the State Election Board.
The lawsuit was filed by State Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, former Fulton County election board Chair Cathy Woolard, and Georgia Senate candidate Randal Mangham, following the board’s approval of “controversial” election rules.
The judge ruled that private citizens cannot compel the governor to initiate formal ethics charges, stating that such charges must result from an investigation rather than a general complaint. This decision mirrors guidance from Attorney General Chris Carr, who, in a Sept. 6 opinion, clarified that “formal charges” require more than a generalized grievance brought by the public.
One of the primary complaints from the Democrats was that the board members had voted in favor of election integrity rules they claimed unfairly benefited one political party over others, violating the ethical standard requiring board members to avoid conduct that breaches public trust.
