A Fulton County judge has ruled that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners must confirm two Republican nominees, Julie Adams and Jason Frazier, to the county’s Board of Registration and Elections. The decision, issued by Senior Superior Court Judge David Emerson, resolves a months-long dispute in which commissioners declined to approve the nominees submitted by the Fulton County Republican Party. The court determined that under Georgia law, the Board of Commissioners has no discretion to reject political party nominees who meet the basic eligibility criteria outlined in the statute.
Georgia law requires that the county election board include two representatives from each of the state’s two largest political parties, selected through a formal nominating process. Judge Emerson emphasized that the law does not allow the governing authority to evaluate or disqualify nominees based on political considerations or perceived qualifications. Once a major political party submits its nominees, the Board of Commissioners is obligated to appoint them unless they are found to be ineligible—for example, due to residency, voter registration status, or a conflict of office. In this case, the court found that both Adams and Frazier met the statutory requirements, and the commissioners’ failure to appoint them constituted a violation of the law.
The ruling is a significant development in a broader battle over election oversight in Georgia’s most populous county. The controversy surrounding the nominees drew attention due to the political backgrounds of both individuals. Julie Adams currently serves on the elections board and made headlines after abstaining from certifying the results of the 2024 primary election. She also filed a lawsuit seeking to clarify whether board members can legally decline to certify election results under certain circumstances. Jason Frazier, the second nominee, has previously filed challenges to the eligibility of thousands of voters in Fulton County and was blocked from board service by the commission last year.
A spokesperson for the Fulton County Board of Commissioners said the county was disappointed by the ruling and is evaluating its options, including a potential appeal. Some Democratic commissioners voiced concern that the ruling strips them of their ability to exercise independent judgment in vetting nominees, reducing their role to a mere formality. Conversely, Republican commissioner Bridget Thorne celebrated the decision, saying it upholds the law and ensures that both parties have fair representation on the board.
This decision adds to the ongoing political tension surrounding election administration in Fulton County. Since the 2020 presidential election, the county has faced repeated scrutiny over its election processes, including audits, legislative reviews, and public challenges to its voter rolls and certification procedures. Judge Emerson’s ruling holds that party representation on election boards is a matter of statutory compliance, not political discretion. By reinforcing the limits of the commission’s authority, the court has clarified the legal standard for election board appointments.