Interim Fort Bend County Judge Daniel Wong has initiated legal proceedings to affirm his status as the county’s chief executive amidst a controversy regarding the legitimacy of his appointment. On Monday, he filed a lawsuit against County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, alleging that she overstepped her boundaries by declaring that his term had concluded.
In his lawsuit, Wong contends that Smith-Lawson’s actions, which included instructing county officials to consider the position as vacant, were unauthorized. The lawsuit articulates his request for the court to confirm that his appointment remains valid, emphasizing that the continuity of lawful governance is mandated by the Texas Constitution until a qualified successor is in place.
The backdrop to Wong’s appointment involves a civil lawsuit that led to the suspension of elected Fort Bend County Judge KP George. The suit was filed by a citizen who claimed her First Amendment rights were violated when George sought her removal from the Commissioners Court due to her critical remarks about him. Following this, Wong—who is also a Republican candidate in the forthcoming November election—was appointed to the role.
However, the legal landscape has shifted as the civil lawsuit has now been dropped. In light of this development, Smith-Lawson, a Democrat, issued a formal notice asserting that Wong’s temporary authority had been terminated with the lawsuit’s dismissal. Additionally, Commissioner Dexter McCoy, the Democratic contender for county judge in the upcoming election, has called for Wong to resign from the position.
