JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Bar Association, made up of around 2000 local lawyers, has come out in support of the city’s top attorney.
Following continued disputes with General Counsel Michael Fackler, City Councilman Ron Salem (R-Group 2 At-Large) filed a resolution Tuesday that, if approved, would express a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the lawyer and his services.
Read: No confidence resolution filed targeting Jacksonville’s top attorney
Salem said he expects the resolution to come up for a final vote in six weeks.
In response to the filing, the Association issued the following statement Wednesday:
“It is disappointing to see councilmembers condemn our city’s lawyer because his legal advice has not comported with their agenda. Under Section 7.02 of our City’s Charter, the General Counsel has binding authority over the consolidated government and is obligated to provide binding opinions when requested.
“The Resolution expresses disagreements with prior decisions by the General Counsel without any indication that he did not exercise his independent legal judgment in good faith. Further, the Resolution vaguely refers to prior General Counsels and other attorneys’ opinions that the General Counsel reached the wrong conclusion, without citing their names or reasons.
“The duly appointed General Counsel enjoys the respect of the Jacksonville legal community and has earned his reputation as a highly skilled lawyer. As General Counsel, he is required to make difficult legal decisions and is bound by the oath taken as a member of The Florida Bar. We are confident that he will continue to perform his role by adhering to the law as outlined in the City Charter.”
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The resolution lays out several of the battles the council has fought with Fackler, starting with his opinion that allowed Mayor Donna Deegan (D) to remove the last public-facing Confederate monument in Jacksonville.
Read: Final Confederate monument in Jacksonville comes down in Springfield Park
Following that disagreement, the city council hired its own legal counsel.
The most recent conflict came earlier this month, when Mayor Deegan issued the first veto of her administration. It blocked a City Council-approved $4-million-a-year contract boost for Meridian Waste that members said was financially necessary.
The council overturned her veto, but Fackler determined the council didn’t have the authority to authorize the increase in the first place.
Salem says he expects an expensive legal battle from Meridian soon aiming to make the city enforce the contract increase.
Read: After rebuke from legislative leaders, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledges to veto immigration bill
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