The Fulton County Commission in Georgia has been ordered to pay $10,000 a day for failing to appoint two Republican nominees to the county's election board, in defiance of a court order. The ruling by Superior Court Judge David Emerson came after Democratic commissioners rejected candidates linked to election denialism and voter registration challenges.
The county charter mandates that commissioners appoint two Republicans and two Democrats nominated by their respective party chairs. When the commission refused to appoint Jason Frazier and Julie Adams—nominated by the Fulton County Republican Party chair—Judge Emerson issued an order compelling the appointments. In a contempt hearing, Emerson found the Democratic commissioners had acted in bad faith, awarding attorney's fees to the Republican plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs sought both civil and criminal contempt, which could have led to jail time for the commissioners. However, the judge imposed escalating daily fines until compliance. Frazier has been a prolific challenger of voter registrations, while Adams is a member of an election-denial activist network and previously refused to certify the May 2024 primary.
County attorney Don Samuel argued that the commissioners were withholding appointments to preserve their right to appeal, not out of disrespect. He acknowledged the irony given Democratic criticisms of federal officials defying court orders. The commission has seven members, five Democrats, but only two—Dana Barrett and Mo Ivory—voted against the appointments, resulting in a tie.
