A newly elected Houston judge accidentally resigned Monday when attempting to make an April Fools’ joke.
Harris County Civil Court judge, Bill McLeod, who was sworn in last November, shared on social media his plans to run for Texas Supreme Court without knowing that the announcement would lead to his automatic resignation, Reuters reported.
According to the Texas Constitution, if a judge announces candidacy for another office, it “shall constitute an automatic resignation of the office then held.”
First Assistant County Attorney Robert Soard told Reuters on Tuesday that the Harris County attorney’s office would present the matter to the county commissioners next week. The commission has the ability to appoint replacements.
McLeod’s supporters plan to attend Tuesday’s commissioners meeting and express that they hope the judge, who won with 55 percent of the vote, remains in office.
Other public officials and politicians shared in on April Fools’ Day traditions and, joking that they now supported legislation which they obviously oppose. One example is Ted Cruz, who said in an April Fools’ tweet that he would now be signing the Green New Deal.
