Judge Seat Battle Heats Up in Fort Bend | Texas News

Fort Bend County’s legal battle over who’s in charge of the judge’s seat is heating up as County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson sues interim judge Daniel Wong, claiming he lacks legal authority to hold the position. The dispute began when Wong sued Smith-Lawson to confirm his appointment, which was made in April by a district judge—but the underlying case was dropped just days later, after the former judge’s sentencing. Smith-Lawson and Democrats argue Wong’s term expired then, while Wong’s lawyer cites a Texas Constitution provision that keeps officials in place until a successor is ready. With Wong, a Republican, set to face the Democratic nominee in November, the situation is further complicated by fears that any actions taken since June 17th could be legally challenged, turning this into a high-stakes political and legal showdown. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ed2fb5c4162ea97c