The ruling, issued this week, stems from a lawsuit filed by the Cassilly administration after Penman refused to step down from his council seat. The county charter prohibits council members from being employed by the sheriff's office or other county-funded state offices, citing a conflict of interest given the council's oversight of those agencies' budgets.

Penman had promised voters during his campaign that he would retire from the sheriff's office if elected. After taking office, however, he reversed course and accepted a new position with the sheriff's office. The Cassilly administration then called on Council President Vincenti and other members to remove Penman, but when the council took no action, the administration sued.

The high court agreed with the administration's interpretation of Section 207 of the Harford County Charter, which clearly bars such dual employment. In a statement, the Harford County Administration said the ruling validates its longstanding position.

"Penman told voters prior to his election that he would retire from the sheriff's office if elected to the county council," the statement read. "After he was elected, Penman reversed his stance and took a new position with the sheriff's office."

The court's decision also invalidates several bills Penman introduced while serving on the council, including a charter amendment that would have expanded the power of the deputies' union and other county-funded state employees to influence the county budget process. The administration described those bills as "illegally rushed through" and said they are now void because Penman was not a legitimate member of the council when he introduced them.

The ruling raises questions about the status of other actions Penman may have taken during his tenure. The county administration has not indicated how it will proceed in the wake of the decision, but the invalidation of the bills could have significant implications for the county's budget process and labor relations.

Penman's removal leaves a vacancy on the Harford County Council. Under the county charter, the council president must appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term. Council President Vincenti's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the appointment process.

The case underscores the importance of adhering to ethics rules designed to prevent conflicts of interest in local government. Harford County's charter provision is intended to ensure that council members who oversee agency budgets are not simultaneously employed by those agencies, a principle the court upheld.

Penman has not publicly commented on the ruling. Court records did not indicate whether he plans to appeal further; the Supreme Court is the state's highest court, so the decision is final.

The ruling is a victory for the Cassilly administration, which argued that the council's failure to act forced the lawsuit. It also serves as a reminder that voters and officials must take campaign promises seriously, particularly those involving potential ethical conflicts.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.