ST. LOUIS • The Missouri Court of Appeals has upheld a ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Circuit Court judge's decision to oust former Northeast fire district board president Robert Edwards from office.
On Jan. 13, 2010, Associate Circuit Court Judge Dale Hood ordered that Edwards be removed from the board immediately, saying he broke the law and "intentionally and flagrantly abused his power." Hood's order, in response to a petition filed by ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch, said Edwards had exercised the powers of the board without a quorum and majority vote of the board.
An opinion released Tuesday by the Court of Appeals said that substantial evidence had been presented to the trial court, showing that, "Edwards forfeited his office by engaging in misconduct, specifically by intentionally exercising powers he did not lawfully possess." The opinion said that reasons given by Edwards — including that he had relied on the advice of former Northeast board attorney Elbert Walton Jr. — "are not sufficient to absolve him of ultimate responsibility."
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Despite his removal, Edwards is running for a six-year post on the Northeast board in the election on April 5.
