LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A hearing next week will consider Jason Corley\u2019s lawsuit seeking to re-instate him as Precinct 2 Lubbock County commissioner.<\/p>\n
Corley filed a lawsuit late Monday, after County Judge Curtis Parrish removed him from office. <\/p>\n
Texas 237th District Court Judge Les Hatch recused himself. Visiting Senior Judge Patrick Pirtle, formerly of the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo, has been assigned to the case.<\/p>\n
Judge Pirtle denied Corley\u2019s request for a temporary restraining order. He did rule that Corley\u2019s request for an expeditious hearing on his application for temporary injunction \u201cis warranted and should be granted.\u201d<\/p>\n
A hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19 in the 237th District Court. Corley\u2019s legal action is filed against Mark Meurer, the man Parrish swore into office as Precinct 2 commissioner Monday.<\/p>\n
COVERAGE DEC. 8: County Judge Parrish removes Commissioner Corley from office; Corley says move \u2018corrupt power play,\u2019 files lawsuit<\/a><\/p>\n Removal from office<\/p>\n Parrish claimed Corley became a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in November<\/a>, when he announced an exploratory committee. Parrish cited state law, that a county commissioner or several other elected officials automatically resign when becoming a candidate for another office more than one year and 30 days before his or her term ends. Corley\u2019s term runs through December 31, 2026. <\/p>\n In the lawsuit, Corley calls Parrish\u2019s justification to remove him an \u201cextremely broad\u201d and an \u201cerroneous application\u201d of the \u201cResign to Run\u201d law. Corley insists he didn\u2019t resign his office because he did not file for candidacy for U.S. House of Representatives until the law no longer applied.<\/p>\n