Lubbock Chronicle | Editorial | October 13, 2026
The conflict between Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish and Justice of the Peace Susan Rowley raises questions that deserve answers.
This is more than a disagreement between two elected officials. It involves public accountability, taxpayer resources, and potentially Lubbock County's future leadership.
With the November 3 General Election approaching, the timing adds another dimension.
Parrish, a Republican, is running unopposed for another term as county judge. Rowley, also a Republican, faces Democrat Nellie Hopson in the race for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2.
Neither circumstance establishes a political motive, but both make transparency particularly important.
Five Questions That Deserve Answers
1. Who gains from this conflict?
Does anyone gain a political, personal, or institutional advantage from this conflict? What consequences does this have for Lubbock County residents?
2. Was a complaint filed with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct?
Has a complaint been filed with the commission? If so, when, and has it taken any publicly reportable action? Commission proceedings can be confidential, but explain any information legally available to the public. Was any complaint or report filed with law enforcement concerning this dispute? If so, with which agency, when, and has any public action been taken?
3. Who would select a replacement county judge?
The new term for Lubbock County Judge begins January 1, 2027. Under Texas Local Government Code §87.041, the commissioners court may fill a vacancy by majority vote of members present and voting. If the office becomes vacant, how would the county handle that selection, and would the public have an opportunity to hear from prospective appointees?
4. What has this conflict cost taxpayers, and what might it cost in the future?
Have county employees, outside attorneys, or other taxpayer-funded resources been used? If so, how much has been spent, who authorized it, and what additional expenses are anticipated?
5. What happens next?
Are legal or administrative proceedings pending? Who has authority to resolve the outstanding issues, and when can the public expect answers?
Accountability Is Not Optional
Lubbock County residents should not have to piece together the facts through competing statements, speculation, or incomplete information.
Both officials have responsibilities to the people they serve, regardless of the November election.
Some information may be protected by ongoing legal or administrative proceedings. But where disclosure is legally permissible, the public deserves clear explanations, supporting documentation, and an accounting of the consequences for county government.
Who benefits? Who makes the decisions? Who pays the bill? And who is accountable?
The Lubbock Chronicle takes no side in this dispute. Our position is simple: Public officials owe the people they serve transparency and accountability, even when the answers are uncomfortable.
The public deserves answers.
— Lubbock Chronicle Editorial
