The CI tests use "configure --disable-static" but option does not exist e.g. https://github.com/sleuthkit/sleuthkit/blob/develop/.github/workflows/build-unix.yml#L56

and

./configure --help | grep static
  --enable-static[=PKGS]  build static libraries [default=yes]

edit: it looks like it has an alias

  --disable-FEATURE       do not include FEATURE (same as --enable-FEATURE=no)

looks like the current configuration convolutes "static library" and "static binary" builds is the source of the confusion.