A state Supreme Court judge ruled Thursday that the current presiding officer in the Nassau County Legislature can change her party affiliation.

Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs is now officially unaffiliated and no longer a Democrat, paving the way for her to make a run at minority leader if a political struggle escalates. Democrats claim the minority Republicans tried to hijack control of the Legislature by making backdoor deals with Democrats Roger Corbin and Lisanne Altmann. Republicans are now backing Corbin for presiding officer.

Current Minority Leader Peter Schmitt says it is not the will of the people to have a Republican or unaffiliated presiding officer of a Democratically-controlled Legislature. Political experts say anything is still possible as both sides play hardball politics.

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