A Franklin County judge issued an order Wednesday stopping the Columbus branch of the NAACP from holding an election to select a new president.
Judge Mark Serrott granted a temporary restraining order, after the branch's former president Nana Watson asked the judge to grant the order Tuesday.
The national organization removed Watson from president of the Columbus branch in January. Watson is appealing the decision, and asked the court to stop the election while she attempts to be reinstated.
The judge barred the Columbus NAACP from holding an election for two weeks and scheduled a hearing for April 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Columbus attorney Sean Walton is the only candidate running to become president of the Columbus branch.
Watson's application for a restraining order states the NAACP's "allegations" against her are "unsubstantiated," and she shouldn't have been removed from office.
Watson stated in her suit that she was running for re-election in November when the national office "abruptly disrupted" the election and "postponed (it) indefinitely," without "a clear explanation."
Watson's suit provides copies of letters she states the national branch sent to her. The letters state she was removed because of the way her office handled membership dues, and because of how she handled an effort to organize an Athens County branch of the civil right organization. The letters also state she "refused" to work with the NAACP's Ohio conference, attend meetings and "made false statements" about communications with the national office.
Watson stated in the suit that she disputes the organization's claims.
