Grizzle filed a lawsuit earlier this year contending that the provisions under Georgia Code 20-2-51(c) are unconstitutional. Under 20-2-51(c), which was established under Georgia House Bill 251, passed last year by the state General Assembly, "No person who has an immediate family member sitting on a local board of education or serving as the local school superintendent or as a principal, assistant principal, or system administrative staff in the local school system shall be eligible to serve as a member of such local board of education." Immediate family is defined as "a spouse, child, sibling, or parent or the spouse of a child, sibling, or parent."
In April, the law was struck down by a federal judge, but state officials filed an appeal.
Grizzle's daughter, Kimberly Ruff, serves as assistant principal of Pine Log Elementary and thus, according to the new law, would affect Grizzle.
However, the law was applied after Grizzle was elected to office. According to the new law, Grizzle would have been disqualified for running for office again in this year's election. As is, the law applies to board members elected or appointed on or after July 1, 2009.
As the case continues before a Federal Appeals Court updates will be released.