In a separation-of-powers dispute of epic proportions, a visiting judge has granted a temporary injunction in the case of a district judge who sued Galveston County Judge Mark Henry to stop him from taking certain actions against the county’s court administrator.
Everything began last July, when Henry terminated the employment of Bonnie Quiroga, the director of justice administration. The county’s trial judges disagreed with the action, and 56th District Judge Lonnie Cox issued an order to void Quiroga’s termination and stop county officials from replacing her. Less than one year later, the fight has spawned an employment lawsuit by Quiroga, Cox’s lawsuit and two failed mandamus proceedings by Henry and Galveston County commissioners.
