Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu was temporarily sidelined from his post on Monday, May 4, after a state court reviewed a verified petition seeking his removal under Chapter 87 of the Texas Local Government Code. The suspension order, signed by Senior Justice Patricia O. Alvarez, blocks Cantu from performing any county functions while the case plays out and directs an interim judge to handle day-to-day operations. In its order, the court said the allegations describe a continuing pattern of conduct that affects county operations and resources.
Order Lands In District Court
According to the San Antonio Express-News, the suspension order was filed in a district court and names Judge Rolando Jasso to take over county operations while the removal petition is resolved. The court reviewed a verified petition that seeks Cantu’s removal under Chapter 87, which allows a court to remove county officials for incompetence or official misconduct. During the suspension, Cantu is not allowed to perform any duties of the county judge’s office, the paper reports.
How The Removal Push Started
The removal effort has been building for months. Precinct 1 Commissioner Gerardo “Jerry” Morales filed a petition in August 2025 that alleged delinquent property-tax payments and other grounds for removal, according to the Eagle Pass News Leader. That filing, followed by additional complaints, helped trigger extended scrutiny of county finances and sparked internal disputes. Local coverage has framed the verified petition as part of a broader clash over budgeting priorities and court staffing.
Judge Cantu Calls It Politics
Cantu has portrayed the removal push as politically motivated and tied to his budget decisions, the Maverick Times reports. He has also voiced concerns in commissioners court meetings about the county auditor’s office and has defended reallocations that he says were approved by the full court. These public disputes over money and oversight have formed the backdrop to the legal filings that culminated in this week’s suspension.
Interim Judge Steps In, With A Bond On The Line
Under the court order, Cantu is barred from carrying out county duties while the case is pending, and Judge Rolando Jasso has been tapped to run county operations in the meantime, the San Antonio Express-News notes. Spanish-language and local outlets report that the plaintiffs recommended Jasso for the interim role and that an interim appointee must post a bond before formally assuming the job. Zócalo reported that plaintiffs confirmed the court’s decision and that Jasso would be responsible for covering that bond. County officials had not issued an immediate on-the-record response to the suspension order.
What Chapter 87 Lets A Court Do
Chapter 87 of the Texas Local Government Code spells out the grounds and procedures for removing county officers and allows a court to suspend an official while a removal petition is pending, as described in Chapter 87 of the Texas Local Government Code. The statute focuses on incompetence and official misconduct as potential triggers for removal and lays out the procedural steps courts must follow. A temporary suspension is only an interim step, and the outcome will depend on how the district court rules on the verified petition against Cantu.
Runoff Looms As Judge Sits On The Sidelines
The timing is hard to miss. The suspension arrives just weeks before the statewide primary runoff. The Texas Secretary of State lists Tuesday, May 26, 2026, as the date for primary runoffs. Cantu is listed as the incumbent on local candidate rosters, including BallotReady. That means Maverick County voters will head to the polls while the county judge’s status is in limbo, a twist that could complicate both campaigning and turnout.
For now, county staff and local leaders say they will follow the court’s orders, and commissioners' court meetings are expected to proceed under interim oversight while the district court takes up the verified petition. Reporters are watching for new filings, any bond or appointment paperwork involving Judge Jasso, and notices of hearings that could determine whether the removal petition moves ahead. This story will be updated if new court documents or official statements are released.
