The Texas Supreme Court temporarily paused new developments in the Lubbock court case that restored Jason Corley as commissioner in Lubbock County Precinct 2.
The attorney for Mark Meurer asked the Supreme Court for a “stay” in the local court case until there is enough time for the appeals process. Click here to read the order.
The stay reflected an agreement between Meurer and the State of Texas nearly two weeks ago. Without a stay, the Lubbock lawsuit was set for trial in April.
How it started
The legal battle started on December 8 when Meurer served in one meeting on the Commissioners Court for Precinct 2. This came after he took the oath of office from Judge Curtis Parrish. Parrish declared Corley became a candidate for Congress with more than one year and 30 days left in Corley’s term of office. So, as Parrish put it, Corley automatically resigned.
Corley filed a lawsuit the same day. A few days later, the State of Texas, represented by Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley, sided with Corley. Judge Patrick Pirtle restored Corley to office in time for the next Commissioners Court meeting.
Meurer’s attorney, Kristen Vander-Plas LaFreniere, argued Pirtle violated procedure in restoring Corley. She appealed first to the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo, which refused her request for emergency action and then to the state’s Supreme Court.
February 13, 2026
January 7, 2026
Meurer appeal rejected by Seventh Circuit, Corley remains Precinct 2 commissioner
December 22, 2025
Update – Corley restored, Meurer out by temporary court order but case moves to appeals court
December 19, 2025
December 16, 2025
December 12, 2025
December 10, 2025
December 9, 2025
December 8, 2025
“The county judge created a great injustice against the people of Precinct 2 by removing me from office,” said Corley Monday in reaction to the high court’s order.
LubbockLights.com offered County Judge Curtis Parrish and Meurer’s attorney, Kristen Vander-Plas LaFreniere, a chance to comment Monday. They declined.
“At this point, I am now just a witness,” Corley said.
Once the state got involved, Pirtle removed Corley as the plaintiff and put Texas in his place. Meurer’s appeal is largely based on the legal technicalities of how that happened.
“I think what the county judge did borderlines on election interference,” Corley said.
Parrish has repeatedly insisted he did not remove Corley from office. He merely announced Corley had resigned automatically by running for another office.
Corley is running for Congress – the seat Jodey Arrington will leave at the end of this current term. But Corley insists he did not become a candidate before December 2 and did not trigger the automatic resign-to-run rule.
Corley thinks it hurt his standing with the voters in his race for Congress.
“It did tie up quite a bit of time and energy and effort on my part. … I think it also affected fundraising as well. It’s good to have your name in the press, but the reason why – it does matter,” Corley said.
“I do hope that our state reps will take this issue up in the next session and will go ahead and remove the resign-to-run rule. It’s really just silly. … It accomplishes nothing,” Corley said.
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