Judge cans 12 Tennessee officials because of secret meetings
A judge in Tennessee kicked 12 county officials out of office because they were hand-picked illegally behind closed doors. The judge determined that Knox County commissioners filled vacant positions, including the sheriff, with "relatives, cronies and supporters" by meeting in secret and violating the state's Open Meeting Act. The commissioners also could be fined up to $50 and jailed up to 10 days for each violation. The commission chair said it's unfair to prohibit the three-member commission from meeting in secret over lunch or other private venues, and that transparency "brings government to a halt." For the story, see
http://www.dailyreportonline.com/Editorial/News/new_singleEdit.asp?individual_SQL=10%2F12%2F2007%4017210_Public_.htm