A lawsuit filed by incumbent Judge Carlo Key questions challenger Audrey Martinez's residency, sparking a legal battle ahead of the Bexar County primary election.
A legal dispute has emerged in the race for County Court at Law 14 in Bexar County , Texas, centered around the residency of judicial candidate Audrey Martinez . Incumbent Judge Carlo Key has filed a lawsuit challenging Martinez's claim that she resides in Bexar County , alleging that she and her family primarily live in a home located in Floresville, Wilson County.
The lawsuit, filed on January 12th, cites evidence gathered by an investigator hired by Key, including property records, voter registration, vehicle registration, and drone footage, all suggesting that Martinez and her family's primary residence is the Wilson County property. Martinez, however, maintains that her official residence is a manufactured home located on her parents' property in south Bexar County, where she raises her three children. This legal battle has significant implications, as the winner of the upcoming primary between Key and Martinez is likely to win the election due to the lack of a Republican challenger.\The core of Judge Key's legal challenge hinges on the interpretation of residency requirements for judicial candidates in Bexar County. To be eligible, candidates must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, a licensed attorney in Texas, and have resided in Bexar County for at least two years. Key's lawsuit argues that Martinez's frequent stays at the Wilson County home, evidenced by the investigator's surveillance, demonstrate that she does not meet the residency criteria. The drone footage and other media, which Key and his attorney have provided to KSAT Investigates, show the Martinez family entering and exiting the Wilson County property over several days in November. Still images captured by the investigator also show the couple's vehicles parked at the Floresville residence at various times. Key has raised questions about why a person would purchase a large home in Wilson County, pay taxes and insurance on it, if their primary residence were elsewhere. Martinez counters these claims by emphasizing the importance of proximity to her children's school, which is an hour and 15 minutes away from the Wilson County property, and her parents' home. She has presented evidence of mail delivered to the Bexar County property, demonstrating that it is her established residence.\Martinez has expressed confidence that she will not be ruled ineligible, dismissing Key's lawsuit as a weak case and characterizing it as an invasion of her family's privacy. The suit, however, does not directly name Martinez as a defendant but rather targets the Bexar County Party Chair and Elections Administrator, seeking to prevent them from recognizing her as a candidate or counting any votes she receives if she is deemed ineligible. The suit’s implications are considerable, especially given that no Republican filed to run for County Court at Law 14. If Martinez is disqualified, Key would likely win the election without further competition. Both the County Party Chair and the Elections Administrator have declined to comment. Meanwhile, Judge Key, the incumbent, is seeking a third consecutive term in the County Court at Law 14, having served for a total of 12 years. The case highlights a complex intersection of legal technicalities, personal privacy, and political strategy, as the candidates fight for their positions and the voters look to have their voice heard
Bexar County Judicial Election Residency Lawsuit Audrey Martinez
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