By Juan Montoya
With the retirement of presiding municipal judge Ben Neece after more 32 years on the bench, the City of Brownsville today announced that municipal court attorney Bobby Lerma was appointed to replace him.
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City Manager Charlie Cabler made the announcement and said Lerma would start immediately as interim presiding judge. Former 445th District Court Judge Rene De Coss will start as Associate Municipal Court Judge at the beginning of the year.
With Neece's departure, Cabler also took the opportunity to replace interim court administrator Tad Hasse with Roberto Baez Hasse, the former court's IT specialist, has been at the position since Baez was placed on suspension with pay following an attempt by Cabler in league with other administrators to place the municipal court administrator slot under the city manager with expanded powers when Neece was absent for a 10-day period earlier this year.
Cabler sent out a directive telling city administrators and employees that he was expanding Baez's duties and placing him under the city manager's office. However, after Neece returned, he contended that it was up to the presiding judge to name the court administrator who would be under the Administrative Service Director/City Secretary.
Upon Neece's retirement, Baez was placed back at his former position of court administrator.
There has been no word on any probe into the reason for his temporary suspension and whether the issues behind it were investigated by the judges or the city administrator.
With the retirement of presiding municipal judge Ben Neece after more 32 years on the bench, the City of Brownsville today announced that municipal court attorney Bobby Lerma was appointed to replace him.
City Manager Charlie Cabler made the announcement and said Lerma would start immediately as interim presiding judge. Former 445th District Court Judge Rene De Coss will start as Associate Municipal Court Judge at the beginning of the year.
With Neece's departure, Cabler also took the opportunity to replace interim court administrator Tad Hasse with Roberto Baez Hasse, the former court's IT specialist, has been at the position since Baez was placed on suspension with pay following an attempt by Cabler in league with other administrators to place the municipal court administrator slot under the city manager with expanded powers when Neece was absent for a 10-day period earlier this year.
Cabler sent out a directive telling city administrators and employees that he was expanding Baez's duties and placing him under the city manager's office. However, after Neece returned, he contended that it was up to the presiding judge to name the court administrator who would be under the Administrative Service Director/City Secretary.
Upon Neece's retirement, Baez was placed back at his former position of court administrator.
There has been no word on any probe into the reason for his temporary suspension and whether the issues behind it were investigated by the judges or the city administrator.