Fort Bend County's Commissioners Court voted Thursday, Aug. 27, to eliminate three associate judge positions and strip most staff from the elected county attorney's office. Critics say the moves will delay protective orders and custody cases for families across the county, including those in Missouri City and Stafford.

The 3-0 vote reduced associate judges from eight to five and created a new civil legal department under commissioners' control. Interim County Judge Daniel Wong and Commissioners Andy Meyers and Vincent Morales approved both items. Democratic Commissioners Grady Prestage and Dexter McCoy continued their boycott of meetings presided over by Wong, whose legal authority to serve they dispute.

The packed meeting drew nearly three hours of public comment. The vast majority of speakers opposed both proposals, according to ABC13. Both items passed with little discussion afterward.

District Judge Monica Rawlins warned that losing her associate judge would increase caseloads and extend wait times in family court. She said she learned of the budget cut only when the meeting agenda was posted.

"I have a budget. And the budget I was presented with includes the associate judge. I never received a revised budget," Rawlins said.

Attorney Rocky Pilgram said the cuts would hit family courts hardest, where delays in protective orders and custody rulings carry serious consequences. County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson objected at the meeting, saying she received no notice. Some of her staff spoke during public comment; several were seen wiping away tears.

Smith-Lawson has called the restructuring "blatant political retribution," according to Houston Public Media. The proposal could shift more than half of her 42-person staff to the new department, leaving her largely with a 12-person litigation division, she told the Houston Chronicle before the vote.

Meyers attempted the same associate judge reduction last year but withdrew it after community pushback. On Aug. 25, he told the Chronicle he supported the change because commissioners had "lost confidence in County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson's professional competence and legal judgment." After the Aug. 27 vote, Meyers walked past ABC13's cameras without commenting.

Dennis Spellman, a spokesperson for Meyers' office, said the new civil division would handle contract review, interlocal agreements and procurement work, according to Houston Public Media. He said it was not meant to duplicate the county attorney's statutory responsibilities.

McCoy called the vote unlawful in a statement, arguing the Texas Constitution and local government code do not grant commissioners court the authority to seize powers entrusted to the elected county attorney.

That morning, 502nd District Court Judge Mark H. Hanna had denied Smith-Lawson's emergency request for a temporary restraining order that would have blocked the vote. A separate quo warranto case filed by Smith-Lawson contesting Wong's authority remains pending.

According to ABC13, sources indicate affected judges plan to file suit.

The next critical date for Missouri City and Stafford taxpayers: the county budget and tax-rate vote scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10. State law requires four commissioners present to adopt the rate. County officials have warned that failure to pass it could affect employee cost-of-living raises and delay infrastructure projects.