Brooklyn Dems Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn's last-minute gambit to overcome the results of the June election and retain power over the county machine has failed, for now.
Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Jill Epstein on Monday ruled that the party leadership's vote to change the rules to maintain control of the party was "improper," and issued an injunction blocking members of the party who lost their elections in June from voting on any further "substantial matters" as part of the Brooklyn Dems' Executive Committee.
"The court finds that the rule changes must be declared a nullity and a permanent injunction enjoining the implementation of these amended rules is thus warranted," Epstein wrote.
As a result, Bichotte Hermelyn will likely lose her grip on power at the party's September 23 meeting, where district leaders will vote on a new chair. The country leadership is likely to appeal the decision, however. Bichotte Hermelyn could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. Tony Melone, president of the New Kings Democrats, the reformist bloc that brought the suit, said Monday the ruling was "wonderful."
"We know that appeals are possible, but I don't think anyone wants that because the last thing any Democrat wants is for our party to be tied up in a legal fight when we need to be preparing for the November election," he said.