CENTER, Neb. - County sheriffs are no strangers to courtrooms — but they usually aren’t headed to court against the county they serve. That’s the case in Knox County, where Sheriff Don Henery has sued the Knox County Board of Supervisors.

The lawsuit follows the board’s decision in August to fire Chief Deputy Dan Henery — the sheriff’s brother — along with 911 operator Heather Kienow. The board also suspended County Attorney Hanna Knox Jensen without pay for a year. At issue was a microphone that a special investigator said was used to listen in on closed sessions without supervisors’ knowledge.

Sheriff Henery issued a statement after the firings saying he was “very disappointed” in the board’s actions.

Henery argues in the lawsuit that the board violated Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act by firing the two employees during a closed session.

He is asking a Knox County District Court judge to reinstate both Dan Henery and Kienow.

A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.