Update: 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
At Friday\u2019s hearing, Pirtle had to first decide if Corley had the right to file a special kind of lawsuit called quo warranto. That\u2019s where trouble began.<\/p>\n
Pirtle ruled Corley\u2019s lawsuit could stay on the books. Meurer\u2019s attorney, Kristen LaFreniere, had a notice of appeal ready to go on her laptop computer in the courtroom. She filed it electronically at the moment of Pirtle\u2019s ruling.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s why that\u2019s important. State law puts the case on hold (technically a \u201cstay\u201d) during this kind of appeal.<\/p>\n
When she told Pirtle, he responded, \u201cI would prefer to proceed today.\u201d<\/p>\n
The judge then called a 15-minute recess. When he came back he changed his mind and decided Corley could not proceed.<\/p>\n
Only Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley, acting for the State of Texas, could go forward with the quo warranto.<\/p>\n
Pirtle said, \u201cIn light of the conundrum presented, the Court is going to withdraw its prior order. \u2026 At this time, we will proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n
LaFreniere objected. She said state law (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code) calls for all proceedings to stop until the appeals court looks. She said the judge cannot just change his mind to get rid of the appeal.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 The reason for the change of mind is simply so we can move forward \u2026,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
LaFreniere filed two more documents on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cCounsel strenuously objected to this violation of the automatic stay but was overruled repeatedly,\u201d she wrote in an 11-page request to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Amarillo.<\/p>\n
Just before midnight, she filed another request \u201coverruling all actions of the trial court\u201d and \u201coverturn each of the trial court\u2019s void orders.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 The hearing should have been over. \u2026 Instead, inexplicably, the trial court then proceeded hearing the merits,\u201d her petition stated.<\/p>\n
Both documents requested action before Monday at 9 a.m. \u2013 one hour before the start of a commissioners court meeting.<\/p>\n
![\"Mark](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mark_meurer_after_court_1920x1080.jpg\")
Mark Meurer enters an elevator with his attorneys after a court hearing in the Lubbock County Courthouse. Credit: Staff photo.<\/p>\n
In the courtroom<\/p>\n
During the hearing, Brumley called Parrish to the stand. He asked when, in Parrish\u2019s view, Corley automatically resigned his seat.<\/p>\n
Parrish said it was November 12 \u2013 the same day Corley announced via email he formed an exploratory committee. That email included a \u201cCorley for Congress\u201d logo and email address. It also included a \u201cCorley for Congress\u201d P.O. box \u2013 although Corley later said the box office address was sent out by mistake.<\/p>\n
Parrish also testified that Corley sent a text message to former Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance saying, \u201cI am running for Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brumley asked, \u201cYou determined Mr. Corley automatically resigned?\u201d<\/p>\n
Parrish answered, \u201cI just announced it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brumley asked, \u201cWould it be fair to say that based on \u2026 the Local Government Code, you assumed the authority to appoint his successor?<\/p>\n
Parrish answered, \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brumley asked, \u201cHad any court or other body declared a vacancy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Parrish responded, \u201cNo\u201d<\/p>\n
Brumley also called Corley to the stand. He testified he only announced an exploratory committee \u2013 not an actual candidacy before December 2.<\/p>\n
Then LaFreniere cross examined Corley. She asked about a long list of people including other commissioners and soon-to-be local Republican chair Ken Adams about his intention to run for Congress.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never stated my intention to run,\u201d Corley said.<\/p>\n
At one point Corley said he told commissioner Cary Shaw he intended to run but then clarified that he meant, \u201cI launched an exploratory committee.\u201d<\/p>\n
She asked if he told Justin Martin, a candidate in the March Primary for commissioner in Precinct 2.<\/p>\n
Corley said no. But LaFreniere followed up wanting to know if Corley told Martin he was not running for reelection. Corley said yes.<\/p>\n
She asked, \u201cWhat reasoning did you give for why you wouldn\u2019t be running for reelection?\u201d<\/p>\n
He answered, \u201cEight years was long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Friday hearing, Brumley said, \u201cJudge Parrish did not have authority \u2026 to declare that Mr. Corley automatically resigned from office. Thus he lacked authority to appoint his successor.\u201d<\/p>\n
She showed a text where he said, \u201cI\u2019m running for Congress in District 19,\u201d and asked if that\u2019s a definite statement of becoming a candidate.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrivate,\u201d Corley responded.<\/p>\n
But when pressed if he agrees that\u2019s a statement of intent, he said, \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Corley\u2019s legal argument is a private statement does not count.<\/p>\n
Case law<\/p>\n
Brumley and LaFreniere both agreed the legal precent for quo warranto is Lewis v Drake. It says in part:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe general rule that the issue of whether a public officer has vacated his office may be raised only by an information in the nature of quo warranto is not a petty legal technicality. The principle is of great public importance. Public officers should be free to perform their duties without having their authority questioned incidentally in litigation between other parties. They should not be called on to defend their authority unless a proper legal officer of the State has determined that the question raised is serious and deserves judicial consideration.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ruling<\/p>\n
In his ruling from the bench, Pirtle said the purpose of a quo warranto is for the state to protect itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s relevant,\u201d Pirtle said.<\/p>\n
He called Corley the \u201cchosen agent\u201d of the people of Precinct 2 \u201cbarring his automatic resignation\u201d because he was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022.<\/p>\n
But Pirtle also said Brumley, acting for the state, established he will \u201clikely\u201d succeed on the merits of the case.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to order that Jason Corley continue to serve. He is the lawful party holding that office,\u201d Pirtle said.<\/p>\n
\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/volunteer_activism_96dp_000000_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz48.png\")
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![\"Update](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766423412_111_jason_corley_lbk_county_1920x1080.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Updated](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766423412_297_corley_and_meurer_1920x1080.jpg\")
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Update:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766423414_196_corley_at_buffalo_board_1280x720.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n