{"id":115112,"date":"2026-01-08T04:50:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T04:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/115112\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T04:50:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T04:50:11","slug":"meurer-goes-to-texas-supreme-court-in-precinct-2-fight-corley-submits-legal-bills-to-county-for-reimbursement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/115112\/","title":{"rendered":"Meurer goes to Texas Supreme Court in Precinct 2 fight; Corley submits legal bills to county for reimbursement"},"content":{"rendered":"

When December began and ended, Jason Corley was Lubbock County\u2019s Precinct 2 commissioner.<\/p>\n

For a few days in the middle of the month, Mark Meurer took Corley\u2019s place.<\/p>\n

Meurer now hopes the Texas Supreme Court will put him back on the Commissioners Court, which Corley doesn\u2019t think will happen.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Corley wants the county to pay his $12,000 in lawyer fees following last month\u2019s legal battle over the Precinct 2 seat.<\/p>\n

Meurer filed an emergency motion with the Texas Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

His argument was, \u201cOnly emergency relief from this court will assist Meurer in regaining his statutory right \u2026 and allow him to stay in office pending his appeal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Timeline<\/p>\n

Dec. 8: County Judge Curtis Parrish declared Jason Corley automatically resigned as commissioner by becoming a candidate for Congress with more than one year and 30 days left in his term of office, which LubbockLights.com covered here<\/a>. Corley disputed it. That same morning, Parrish swore in Meurer as Corley\u2019s replacement. Corley sued that same day. Days later the State of Texas, represented by Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley, intervened on Corley\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n

Dec. 19: Visiting (retired) judge Patrick Pirtle ordered Corley be restored to office in a court hearing. Meurer\u2019s attorney, Kristen LaFreniere, filed an appeal and a request for emergency action.<\/p>\n

Dec. 22: The Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo denied the emergency request.<\/p>\n

Dec. 22: Corley participated in a Commissioners Court meeting.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, the appeals court also published a notice saying Meurer needs to show he even has the right to file this specific kind of appeal (which is normally for government officials who are sued in their official capacity). Meurer has until January 20 to file something with the Seventh Court.<\/p>\n

Pirtle wrote an email on Monday to LaFreniere and Brumley, directing them to proceed with the original court case in Lubbock. Corley\u2019s attorney, Ben Garcia, was also copied.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 The Seventh Court of Appeals has denied his [Meurer\u2019s] request for temporary emergency relief. \u2026 Because this proceeding involves a matter of public interest requiring an expeditious resolution, I would also ask that you [Brumley] discuss with her [LaFreniere] a potential schedule for a final hearing. I look forward to hearing from both of you regarding this request,\u201d the email said.<\/p>\n

LaFreniere declined a chance to comment for LubbockLights.com. <\/p>\n

Corley said, \u201cI doubt the Supreme Court is going to rule any differently than what the appeals court has already ruled. \u2026 I think it\u2019s a waste of taxpayer money at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n

He submitted $12,000 in legal bills to Lubbock County last week, anticipating his fellow commissioners will vote on it later this month.<\/p>\n

Corley has no doubt commissioners will approve it \u2013 the same commissioners who expressed shock<\/a> when Corley was escorted out of the courthouse, he said.<\/p>\n

Corley also thinks the fight will drag on for a while. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Supreme Court of Texas stays pretty busy. I will be surprised if it makes it before the Supreme Court [for a final ruling], before the end of my term,\u201d Corley said. <\/p>\n

County Judge Curtis Parrish spoke briefly with LubbockLigthts.com. He said the facts of the case haven\u2019t been explored yet. Right now, the battle is over legal procedures.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t remove Jason Corley from office. In fact, you know, I had very little to do with him being removed from office. \u2026 The only thing I did \u2013 I appointed a suitable resident of the precinct because of the vacancy,\u201d Parrish said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look at the constitution, it\u2019s an automatic resignation,\u201d Parrish said.<\/p>\n

Previous court filings from Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley on behalf of the state said otherwise. Brumley\u2019s writing in court records said Corley did not resign.<\/p>\n

\u201cMeurer is usurping, and is unlawfully holding and executing, the office of county commissioner,\u201d Brumley wrote back in mid-December.<\/p>\n

\"KristenKristen LaFreniere Credit: Pool camera in courtroom.<\/p>\n

Emergency motion to the Texas Supreme Court<\/p>\n

LaFreniere filed an emergency motion to the state\u2019s highest court, saying, \u201cThe court of appeals\u2019 decision \u2026 has already resulted in Meurer being unable to participate in one Commissioners\u2019 Court meeting. Meurer respectfully requests this Court issues the stay before he is forced to miss more of his duties as an appointed County Commissioner.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next meeting is this coming Monday, January 12.<\/p>\n

Click here to read<\/a> the emergency request to the supreme court. <\/p>\n

Glossary of words used in Corley\/Meurer dispute<\/p>\n

Mandamus \u2013 A court command to an official or another court.<\/p>\n

Plea to the jurisdiction \u2013 This is a challenge to the trial court\u2019s authority to hear a case, as explained by the Texas Supreme Court in 1999 in Bland ISD v Douglass Blue<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Quo warranto \u2013 Latin for \u201cby what authority?\u201d It\u2019s used to test whether a person may lawfully hold office according to the Cornell Law School website<\/a>. <\/p>\n

To understand the appeal and the emergency motion, we need to explain some details.<\/p>\n

When Corley first sued, Meurer challenged the lawsuit in something called a plea to the jurisdiction. In other words, did the court even have authority? Normally, only the Texas Attorney General, District Attorney, or County Attorney can file this kind of lawsuit \u2013 not an individual or even an elected official like Corley.<\/p>\n

District Attorney Sunshine Stanek removed her office from the issue and Brumley was appointed to represent the State of Texas. Brumley filed something called quo warranto in favor of Corley.<\/p>\n

Before the December 19 court hearing, it was Corley suing Meurer, and Brumley was just starting to get involved in support of Corley. As soon as the court hearing began, Meurer\u2019s attorney, LaFreniere, asked Pirtle to toss out Corley\u2019s request \u2013 for lacking the right to bring this kind of case. Pirtle said no and let Corley proceed.<\/p>\n

LaFreniere filed an appeal right then in court from her laptop computer. Under the procedural rules, the case had to automatically \u201cstay\u201d or delay.<\/p>\n

So, the judge changed his mind. Pirtle ruled Corley had no right to keep going, and only Brumley could argue in favor of the case. That\u2019s what happened. Brumley called Corley and Parrish as witnesses and argued Corley was still rightfully the commissioner.<\/p>\n

The following Monday, the appeals court notified everyone it would not grant a \u201cstay\u201d before the commissioners court meeting that morning.<\/p>\n

That did not kill the appeal, but there would be no fast track. That brings us back to the emergency request in front of the Texas Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

It said, \u201cSpecifically, Meurer seeks an emergency order from this Court directing the trial court and the appellate court to stay \u2026 a temporary injunction that removed Meurer from his position as Lubbock County Commissioner and replaced him with another individual.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Meurer\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tMeurer appeal rejected by Seventh Circuit, Corley remains Precinct 2 commissioner<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 22, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Update\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tUpdate \u2013 Corley restored, Meurer out by temporary court order but case moves to appeals court<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 19, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Updated\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tUpdated for state intervention; Meurer fires back in filing \u2013 claims Corley has no right to seek \u2018writ of quo warranto\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 16, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Corley\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCorley files legal brief claiming he\u2019s still a county commissioner ahead of next week\u2019s court hearing<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 12, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Judge\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tJudge denies restraining order on newly sworn commissioner Mark Meurer, however, issue to be reconsidered at hearing next Friday<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 10, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Corley\u2019s\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tCorley\u2019s future on Commissioner\u2019s Court waits for judge to be assigned; other commissioners stunned he was replaced<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 9, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Update:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tUpdate: Corley files lawsuit after Parrish replaces him on Court, saying Corley\u2019s Congress bid triggered resignation<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 8, 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

One-two punch<\/p>\n

LaFreniere actually filed two things on Meurer\u2019s behalf to the Texas Supreme Court \u2013 an emergency motion and a petition for mandamus. In simple terms, she wants the Supreme Court to command the appeals court and the trial court to put Meurer back in office for Precinct 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe court entered an injunction removing an officeholder from office, installing another, all in an oral pronouncement \u2026\u201d said her petition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe trial court\u2019s overruling of Meurer\u2019s objections \u2026 violated his constitutional rights to due process, binding caselaw from this Court, the rules of civil procedure, and the statutory stay \u2026\u201d LaFreniere also wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt also sets a dangerous precedent that office holders can be removed from office without appellate remedies that are provided to them by statute and that others can be placed into office by judicial fiat with essentially no appellate review in the meantime,\u201d her petition said.<\/p>\n


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