Court Opinion

ID: 5074801
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-01 11:13:33.25532+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:20:18.016812
License: Public Domain

Benito Talamantez, a county commissioner for Wilson County, was convicted of official misconduct. The trial judge included in the judgment an order removing Talamantez *Page 662 
from office. See Tex. Local Gov't Code § 87.031 LOC. GOV'T.. However, all the acts for which Talamantez was convicted were committed prior to his reelection on November 8, 1988. Therefore, under section 87.001 LOC. GOV'T. of the Local Government Code, Talamantez cannot be removed from office based on those acts.
The trial judge's order of removal is directly contrary to section 87.001 LOC. GOV'T. of the Local Government Code. Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 122 and without hearing oral argument, we conditionally grant Talamantez' petition for writ of mandamus. The writ will issue only if Judge Strauss fails to vacate his order of removal.