Ga. PSC Candidate Withdraws Motion in Social Media Blocking Case

The 2022 Democratic challenger to a Georgia utility commissioner voluntarily dismissed her motion for injunctive relief against the incumbent. Patty Durand sued Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols (R) last year at the U.S. District Court for Northern Georgia for blocking her on social media (case 1:22-cv-4548). But Echols has now unblocked Durand on Twitter and Facebook and “has committed to not delete any comments … based on the viewpoint(s) expressed,” Durand’s lawyers said Monday. “Other matters, including but not limited to any outstanding claims regarding injunctive relief, remain pending before this Court.” Judge Victoria Calvert had planned a hearing on Durand’s motion Wednesday. Durand and Echols never got to face off for votes because the Supreme Court canceled November's Georgia PSC election. That decision closely followed a state court ruling that Georgia improperly tried to stop Durand from challenging Echols (see 2208220052).