Jackson County commissioners vote to end county attorney’s contract, authorize ethics complaint

Jackson County commissioners voted at a special meeting on Sept. 25, 2025, to terminate County Attorney Michelle Jordan’s contract effective immediately and authorized the county’s human-resources office to prepare an ethics complaint for filing with the Florida Bar.

The vote followed a statement read on behalf of Chairman Westbrook alleging Jordan had taken positions directly adverse to the county and created an "unwivable" conflict under the Florida rules of professional conduct. Susan Gainey, an attorney retained by the county’s insurer, the Florida League of Cities, told the commission that circumstances developing "in the last week or two" made immediate attention necessary and that the notice used to call the special meeting satisfied the county’s notice requirements. Dr. Spires, who said he was recovering from COVID, questioned whether the meeting had been properly noticed and recused himself from participation.

During…