The Georgia Supreme Court has set aside roughly an hour for oral arguments on the DeKalb Board of Ethics appeal of a ruling invalidating a majority of its members.

The hearing, scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m., will include testimony from Ethics Board lawyers arguing why the makeup of the board -- four members are appointed by outside groups -- should be allowed to stand. Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson ruled last year that state law requires these members to be chosen by elected officials.

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The decision may mean that DeKalb is without an effective ethics board indefinitely.

If the Supreme Court upholds Jackson’s order, it could ultimately invalidate actions taken by the board since then.

Members have continued to meet and hear cases while the appeal is pending. Thursday, the board unanimously agreed to levy a $9,000 fine against former county Commissioner Stan Watson on charges that he used county resources for campaign purposes and solicited money from county contractors on five occasions.

The Supreme Court’s oral arguments will be held at at the Cobb County Superior Court Ceremonial Courtroom, 70 Haynes St. in Marietta.

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