LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A judge ruled Friday to uphold Jason Corley as office holder for Lubbock County Commissioner for Precinct 2 on Friday.
Visiting Senior Judge Patrick Pirtle, formerly of the 7th Court of Appeals in Amarillo, heard the case in downtown Lubbock.
Arguments were heard Friday morning over whether Corley should be reinstated after Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish removed him from office earlier this month.
Corley filed a lawsuit to get the office back after Parrish swore in Mark Meurer to finish out the rest of Corley’s term. Texas 237th District Court Judge Les Hatch recused himself from this case.
Judge Parrish found Corley triggered an automatic resignation when he announced an exploratory committee to look into a run for Congress back in mid-November.
Under the state’s “Resign-to-Run” law, an officeholder gives up that office if they declare candidacy for another office more than a year and 30 days before their term ends.
Corley claims he didn’t resign because he didn’t declare his candidacy until December.
Corley sued Meurer, asking for a state judge to declare him the current officeholder.
Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley filed to intervene on Corley’s behalf in this case, representing the state of Texas.
Brumley’s filing stated Corley was still the lawful officeholder.
Judge Pirtle rules to proceed
One of the major initial questions was whether the lawsuit could properly proceed. Meurer’s attorney claimed the law prevents Corley from filing this kind of suit, saying it must come from the state.
“My client hasn’t actually even been served by the state yet,” said Meurer’s attorney, Kristen Lafreniere.
Since Corley brought Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley into the case on behalf of the state just days ago, Lafreniere argued the case shouldn’t proceed, but Corley’s personal attorney Ben Garcia argued against that.
“Who’s going to be sitting in the chair of the commissioner on Monday at commissioner’s report for Precinct 2? Is it going to be the person who was elected by the people to sit in that chair or is it going to be somebody who was not elected,” Garcia said.
The court ruled that since a state’s attorney was already present, Judge Pirtle would hear and rule on the merits of the case.
Judge Parrish explains his reasoning
Judge Parrish testified about his decision to remove Corley from office, telling the court his interpretation of the “Resign-to-Run” law and his focus on the exploratory committee email.
Judge Parrish’s reasoning revolved around an email Corley’s campaign released in mid-November. It used “Corley for Congress” letterheads, images and email addresses, and included a campaign slogan. Corley said they were all reused assets from his 2014 campaign.
Parrish said the “totality of content” of the email suggested he was a “candidate in fact”, including the “Corley for Congress” images and email addresses.
Judge Parrish also referred to a text message sent to former Texas Tech Chancellor and former Congressman Kent Hance that included the phrase, “I’m running for Congress.”
Parrish believed the statement, “I wanted to get a better understanding of what I can do as congressman for the Texas Tech University System,” was a “definite statement of intent” from Corley.
Corley disagreed with that interpretation.
When asked “Were you considering making an announcement of your run for congress through Mr. Hance?” Corley responded, “No, sir. No and that was actually a typo. Several other text messages that I had sent out all said I had formed an exploratory committee.”
Testimony about private conversations
Lafreniere questioned Corley about several conversations he had regarding his run for Congress with people close to him around the same time he sent that text.
When asked about conversations with Commissioner Shaw, Corley said, “I told Cary that I intended to run…that I had launched an exploratory committee.”
“So, you just said I told Cary I intended to run and then you caught yourself and said exploratory committee, so which one was it?” Lafreniere asked.
“I apologize I almost said that I told Cary that I intended to run in a private conversation,” Corley said.
Corley argued that a statement made in a private conversation did not constitute an announcement to run.
“That a private communication is just that. It’s a private communication,” Corley said. “It’s not public. And then if you intend to announce, your announcement has to be definite. My announcement on December 2nd was definite,” Corley said.
Court confirms Corley as Commissioner of Precinct 2
Judge Pirtle ruled: “Jason Corley will continue to serve as the county commissioner, and he is the lawful party holding the office of County Commissioner for Precinct 2 of Lubbock County, Texas.”
Corley said this is a win for the voters of southeast Lubbock County.
“I’m glad that the judge restored the rights of the people of Precinct 2,” Corley said. “75,000 voters had their voting rights infringed upon. And we’re back to, I’m back in my role as county commissioner and the judge said I never left, so good,” Corley said.
“And to try to use, I don’t even know what to call it, a twisting of the law to try to usurp their rights. I mean, it’s just un-American,” Corley said.
Meurer filing emergency appeal
Meurer’s attorney said they would be filing an emergency appeal Friday and asking the court to issue a ruling over the weekend so the “right person” takes the dais on Monday.
Judge Parrish says Lubbock County will obey the court’s order but won’t comment further since the case is pending litigation.
Copyright 2025 KCBD. All rights reserved.