The city of South Fulton announced Wednesday that a judge had reversed her decision requiring City Council to appear in her court.
Fulton Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause had ordered that the council appear to prove they weren’t in contempt of court for mishandling paperwork related to the city’s firing of its first municipal court judge, Tiffany Sellers.
Sellers gained online fame in June 2018 when a photo of her and seven other black women who ran the city's criminal justice system went viral, dubbed another moment of "black girl magic." She was fired under allegations of misconduct and "bullying."
Sellers' attorney, George O. Lawson, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday that the Thursday court appearance was called off because the city gave him the paperwork needed to file the appeal of Sellers' March 19 firing.
CATCH UP | 'I am not a bully': Internet-famous South Fulton judge to appeal firing
Sellers had been trying to file the appeal, but the city had the wrong person sign the document, which was against the judge’s orders, according to court documents.
This situation is ultimately a speed bump in what is set to be a long battle between the city and its former judge. Sellers has filed multiple legal actions against the city along with the city’s first ethics complaint, which was dismissed.
“It’s been extensive,” said City Attorney Emilia Walker, “It’s taxpayer money we’d prefer to use on recreation centers and municipal facilities than having to defend the city.”
As the mayor searches for a new chief judge, Walker said the city has been running its municipal court with four fill-in judges who, according to the city code, are paid up to $400 per court session.
The city, which was founded in 2017, has been without a municipal court judge for three months. The judge runs a court that handles traffic violations and other low-level offenses, meaning that judge is sometimes the first city official many residents met.
Seller’s online notoriety attracted more than two dozen television deal offers. A production company previously said the working title of the planned reality show was “Women in Black.” Filming was cut short even before Sellers’ firing.
MORE | 'Black girl magic': South Fulton offices held by 8 black women
Some of the staff felt uncomfortable about Sellers letting a TV crew film in the courtroom. Only half of the women in the viral photo remain with the city; two cited their reason for leaving as mistreatment by Sellers, whose contract was set to pay her $135,000 a year through 2021.
The city said it “is committed to operating in good faith and will continue to defend actions brought against it.”
Some of the staff felt uncomfortable about Sellers letting a TV crew film in the courtroom. Only half of the women in the viral photo remain with the city; two cited their reason for leaving as mistreatment by Sellers, whose contract was set to pay her $135,000 a year through 2021.
The city said it “is committed to operating in good faith and will continue to defend actions brought against it.”
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