Mark Meurer will continue as Lubbock County Commissioner for Precinct 2 – at least until next Friday.
State District Judge Patrick Pirtle denied a temporary restraining order late Wednesday morning to stop Mark Meurer from serving as Lubbock County Commissioner for Precinct 2. However, Pirtle scheduled a hearing to consider the matter on December 19 at 10 a.m.
Jason Corley filed the request Monday – the same day County Judge Curtis Parrish removed him from office. Parrish issued a statement saying Corley automatically resigned from Precinct 2 when he became a “candidate-in-fact” for the congressional seat of outgoing Representative Jodey Arrington. Parrish then swore in Meurer just minutes before Monday’s County Commissioner meeting to the shock of other commissioners.
Pirtle – a member of the state’s 7th Court of Appeals based in Amarillo – took over when State District Judge Les Hatch removed himself from the case. Corley’s request included a temporary restraining order immediately followed later by a permanent restraining order.
The judge said no.
Pirtle’s ruling said, “The Court finds that exigent circumstances do not exist for the issuance of a temporary restraining order, without notice and hearing.”
So the matter is not settled. Meurer gets a chance to respond and then Pirtle will make a ruling. But Pirtle agreed there is urgency.
“The Court further finds that Corley’s request for an expeditious hearing on his application for temporary injunction is warranted and should be granted,” the order said.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Related
Related posts
– James Clark is the associate editor of Lubbock Lights. He worked in radio, television and digital media for a combined total of more than 30 years. He was Director of Digital News Content at KAMC,…
More by James Clark