District Judge Amado Abascal and County Judge Candidate Jerry Morales Meeting One Day After Budget Request Raises Questions

EAGLE PASS, Texas — A meeting between 365th District Judge Amado J. Abascal III and County Judge candidate Gerardo “Jerry” Morales is drawing increased attention across Maverick County, raising questions about judicial ethics and the perception of political alignment during an active election cycle.
The situation comes at a critical time as the county prepares for a runoff election while also navigating ongoing discussions tied to court funding.

Timeline of Events Raises Questions

District Judge Amado Abascal appeared before the Maverick County Commissioners Court during an open meeting under the citizens communication portion, where he addressed the need for additional funding for his court.

The following day, on Friday, Judge Abascal was seen during lunchtime at San Miguel Restaurant meeting with County Judge candidate Jerry Morales.

The meeting was first brought to public attention by current County Judge Ramsey English Cantú, who encountered the two during an unexpected visit to the restaurant. Cantú later referenced the encounter during a livestream, stating he observed Judge Abascal and Morales seated together.

The proximity of the meeting to the judge’s public request for funding has become a focal point of discussion.

Context of Budget Discussion

Judge Abascal’s appearance before Commissioners Court centered on funding concerns tied to district court operations.

The District Judge pleaded with commissioner ‘s court about his budget and staff, stating that the 365th Judicial Court would be forced to completely shut down.

District courts can not shut down due to budget issues. Even without approved funding, a district judge is required to continue holding court as mandated by law.

However, funding decisions directly impact staffing, resources, and operational capacity, making budget discussions before Commissioners Court significant.

Intersection With County Judge Race

The timing of the meeting is drawing attention due to Morales’ candidacy for County Judge. That position presides over Commissioners Court and plays a direct role in determining county budget allocations, including funding for the courts.

This overlap between a sitting judge requesting funding and a candidate seeking authority over that funding process has raised questions about how the interaction may be perceived.

Some observers note that such a meeting, even without confirmed details of the discussion, could be interpreted as political alignment against the current administration, given that the incumbent County Judge oversees the same budget process being discussed.

Judicial Ethics Considerations

Under the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, judges are required to avoid both impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.

Canon 2B prohibits judges from using the prestige of their office to advance private interests, while Canon 5 limits political activity outside of a judge’s own campaign.

Judicial ethics guidance in Texas has cautioned that interactions between judges and political candidates can raise concerns when tied to political or campaign-related matters, particularly when those interactions occur close in time to official actions such as budget requests.

Even in the absence of confirmed details about the conversation, timing and context are central to evaluating whether such interactions could raise ethical concerns.

Focus on Public Perception

In a county where government roles closely intersect, public perception carries significant weight.

A meeting between a sitting district judge and a County Judge candidate, occurring one day after a funding request and during an active election cycle, may raise questions about impartiality and independence in the eyes of the public.

The issue extends beyond what was discussed to how the interaction may be interpreted.

No Official Statements Issued

At this time, no official statements have been released by Judge Abascal or Morales regarding the purpose of the meeting.

Details about the conversation remain undisclosed.

A Question for Voters

As the runoff election approaches, the situation raises a broader question for Maverick County residents.

When judicial funding and political leadership intersect, what level of separation should exist between judges and candidates seeking positions that influence those decisions?

The Maverick Times will continue monitoring this developing situation.

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