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Court swears in Roland Sanchez to fill JP Precinct 6; public raises election-code concerns
Summary
The court administered an oath to Roland Sanchez to fill the unexpired Justice of the Peace Precinct 6 term through Dec. 31. A public commenter said the newspaper’s report and the swearing were 'against election code'; court members said the temporary appointment and the later certified winner’s swearing in are separate actions and disputed the allegation.
The Uvalde County Commissioners Court administered the oath of office to Roland Sanchez to fill the unexpired term for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 6, through Dec. 31.
Before the oath, court members discussed whether appointing and swearing a person before all provisional and mail ballots are counted could conflict with election procedures. A member of the public objected, saying newspaper coverage that reported a swearing-in "was against election code," and called for corrections, saying the coverage undermined community trust. That commenter also described personal negative experiences as a poll watcher.
Court members responded that two separate processes were at work: the temporary filling of the vacancy through Dec. 31 and the certification and swearing of the election winner for the regular term in January. The transcript shows a motion was placed on the floor and approved by the court; however, the record’s precise motion language and legal implications are ambiguous in the transcript. Immediately after the vote, the court proceeded with the oath and signing required paperwork.
At the bench, Sanchez recited the oath: "I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of the Uvalde County Justice of the Peace Precinct 6 of the State of Texas and to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State," and affirmed he had not paid or promised anything for the appointment. The court asked him to sign the oath documents in the courtroom to complete the administrative process.
The court did not record, during this session, any formal legal opinion or counsel ruling resolving the public commenter’s election-code claim; the transcript captures dispute and clarification but no final legal determination. The certified election results and any subsequent January swearing remained matters for canvass and later procedure.
