The Superior Court of Walker County has denied former Chickamauga Mayor Trey Deck’s challenge of the Chickamauga City Charter that allowed for his removal, according to a press release.
“The court found that the charter provides more than sufficient protections,” said the press release from the Minor law firm, which represents the city, “and that the process it establishes is fair and lawful.”
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Deck’s lawyers spent most of their allotted time during the removal process claiming that the proceedings were unconstitutional because they did not allow due process, including cross-examinations of witnesses who claimed Deck had allegedly sexually harassed a female city employee. Additional evidence presented in an effort to remove Deck included an audio recording left on a city employee’s phone in which a person alleged to be Deck can be heard saying a racial slur repeatedly.
The Chickamauga City Council voted 4-1 to remove Deck as mayor Feb. 9. Matt Nave was the only council member to vote no. He ran a campaign alongside Deck.