Roswell Court Clerks Sue City

Two Roswell municipal court employees have filed a lawsuit against the city, charging City Solicitor Krista Young with an array of improper actions, according to a story published Tuesday by the Revue & News. 

The story says that chief clerk Linda Young and deputy clerk Patti Lane allege Young withheld documents needed to run the office.

Specifically, according to the story, they charge that Young removed 250 criminal warrants from the court docket.

The lawsuit comes after the Roswell City Council voted to outsource most city court services in September, eliminating three current court positions.

The newspaper said that in response to the lawsuits, the city contends the clerks report to the solicitor and that they are showing "a shocking sense of personal entitlement to offices that are not theirs."

The lawsuit also alleges that the city is violating its charter by exploring the possibility of appointing the city judge.

In August, Judge Maurice Hilliard resigned after 33 years on the bench, citing differences with Young as the main factor. 

The Roswell Mayor and Council have called for a special election in May 2014, with Hilliard's successor to fill the final two years of his term. 

The city has not ruled out making the position an appointed one. Roswell is the only city in Georgia that still elects a municipal judge. 

The city's response to the clerks' lawsuit also included documents suggesting that Hilliard made threats to Young, according to a late October report by WSB-TV. 

In that story, Hilliard denied the charges, and said that while he and Young had disagreements, he had "a very pleasant relationship" with her.