Nassau County Clerk Crawford and Board Chair Leeper "Duke it Out"

Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger

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On November 21, shortly before the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals rules on a court fee dispute between Nassau County Clerk John Crawford and Circuit Court Judge Robert Foster, a defiant Crawford appeared before the Nassau County Commission. Crawford was responding to Chairman Danny Leeper's public criticism over the way Crawford handled the dispute and the cost to taxpayers as a result of Crawford's decision to seek an appeals court ruling. Leeper expressed his opinion that "a simple phone call could have handled this." Legal fees incurred by the Clerk's Office on this matter are estimated to be $85,000.

The $4,500 court fee involved mediation ordered by Judge Foster in a divorce case. Crawford refused payment claiming state funds for this purpose were available. Chief Judge Donald R. Moran from the 4th Judicial Circuit intervened and ordered payment. The mediation fee was eventually paid by Crawford under protest. (Crawford defended his actions in a recent letter posted by the Fernandina Observer.

Editor's Note: The posted video is a portion of Crawford's appearance before the Nassau County Board of Commissioners. To view the entire exchange, click here. Crawford appears toward the end of the meeting at 58 minutes

Click here for Judge Foster's appearance before the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners.

On November 21, shortly before the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals rules on a dispute  between County Clerk John Crawford and Circuit Court Judge Robert Foster over court fees, Crawford appeared before the Nassau County Commission.  Crawford was responding to Chairman Leeper's criticism of the Clerk's decision to refuse a request from Judge Foster to pay a $4,500 expenditure.  The Clerk eventually paid the expenditure under protest after being ordered by Chief Judge Moran.

November 21, 2013 8:06 a.m.