Lawsuit claims that delayed elections for Georgia utility regulator are unconstitutional

The five Republican members of the Georgia Public Service Commission meet Dec. 19, 2023, in Atlanta. A lawsuit filed on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, challenges a new law that delays elections for the public utility regulators, saying letting their terms last more than six years violates the state constitution. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

Updated at 5:06 p.m.

Two groups on Wednesday sued to overturn a law extending the elected terms of Georgia’s public service commissioners, saying it violates the state constitution for the five Republicans to be allowed to serve terms longer than six years.

Georgia WAND Education Fund, Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund and Brionte McCorkle, the executive director of the conservation group, filed the suit in federal court in Atlanta. They allege that the law passed this year also violates their due-process rights under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.