The first step was to approve redistricting committee members and reaffirm the hiring of an outside law firm for oversight because the majority of the court felt the county attorney, Bridgette Smith-Lawson, could not do it objectively.
The list of public speakers was long.
But as contentious as that discussion might have been, it was when the topic turned to Judge KP George's agenda item that decorum disintegrated. Opponents said the measure seemed to allow the court to hire outside law firms- carte blanche- whenever they thought the county attorney wasn't up to the task.
Commissioner Grady Prestige pushed back.
"Tell me what duties are outside the purview of the county attorney. Be specific," Prestige said.
"That's where I stop this conversation," George responded.
"You can't stop a conversation when it isn't going your way," Prestige shot back.
And then the county attorney defended herself.
"I am really upset at the attempt to illegally usurp the power of this office," Smith-Lawson said. "We would not go and hire another sheriff. We would not go and hire another county clerk. We would not go and hire another constable."
After a lengthy back-and-forth and an aborted attempt as a recess, George relented and pulled the item.
Redistricting is moving forward with the new committee already meeting. The law firm is set to advise. As for the county attorney, she told the court she was duly elected twice, and nobody would take her seat at the table.
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