St. Johns County Commissioner Krista Joseph waves an American flag as she begins her comments during a meeting Nov. 21, 2023. | St. Johns County
Published on January 12, 2024 at 4:03 pm
St. Johns County commissioners have decided to meet in secret to consider a report suggesting a commission member might have broken the law.
The commission in December censured commission member Krista Joseph for comments she made at a meeting in November, when she criticized her colleagues’ positions on development and promoted an election to vote them out of office.
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One commissioner called her comments a “campaign speech.”
A private law firm hired by the county has since issued a report concluding that Joseph might have violated a state law that prevents officeholders from interfering in an election. Commissioners on Friday postponed a meeting to consider the report and said it would be held “in the shade,” meaning behind closed doors.
Joseph this week sued her fellow commissioners and State Attorney R. J. Larizza, claiming the censure violated her First Amendment rights.
In light of the lawsuit, a county attorney suggested Friday that the commission consider the law firm’s report in private. The request cited state law that makes litigation strategy or settlement meetings private when held between a board and its attorney.
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Lead image: St. Johns County Commissioner Krista Joseph waves an American flag as she begins her comments during a meeting Nov. 21, 2023. | St. Johns County
