JEFFERSON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — After months of disputes, the Jefferson County quorum court is now taking new steps in its fight with the county judge.
On Monday night, the quorum court made a push to hire an attorney to represent them.
When County Judge Gerald Robinson led the agenda meeting it went as normal, and business moved quickly with no issues of discussion or questions.
He adjourned the meeting, but several quorum court members remained seated as they waited for another agenda meeting to start.
"The second meeting was started by the quorum court when the county judge refused to put items to be put forth on the agenda by other elected officials," said Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin.
This has been going on for a year. So, the second meeting had a different agenda.
One of the items included hiring an outside attorney to represent the quorum court.
"We need some representation in the room. We need someone who is experienced within the law," Franklin described.
The court has been looking to hire Abtin Mehdizadegan, the attorney for the Board of Corrections, as they battle the legalities of Governor Sanders' power over the board.
"There is history here about fighting for making this place better and we want to help and that's what brought us here," said Mehdizadegan.
He was introduced to the quorum court and answered some questions, including possible lawsuits on behalf of the court.
We reached out to Judge Robinson for a response and he didn't answer.
The quorum court needs to read the ordinance two more times before the vote on whether to hire an outside attorney.