December 1, 2022 - Josh Ritter, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, is officially being removed immediately by suspension from his office December 1, 2022, per an order filed by Karren Price, 123rd Judicial District Attorney, and signed by Leann K. Rafferty, 123rd Judicial District Court Judge.
On this date (December 1, 2022) the Court reviewed the original petition for the removal of Joshua Ritter from the office of JP Pct. 4, Shelby County, Texas.
Having already granted the order for issuance of citation in this case, it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that Joshua Ritter is immediately removed from the office of Shelby County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, immediately upon the signing of this order.
Several issues are addressed in the initial petition filed by Price with the most notable being an allegation of misconduct against Ritter for meeting with Ethan Myers who was recently arrested and charged with 1st degree murder in the death of Sarah Hopson on November 13, 2022.
Ritter was served with the petition on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Shelby County District Attorney Karren Price filed a petition on November 29, 2022 in the 123rd Judicial District Court of the Honorable Leanne K. Rafferty for the removal of Joshua Ritter from the office of Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Shelby County. The petition alleges incompetence and/or official misconduct as defined in the Texas Local Government Code 87.011(3) and 87.011(2)(A)&(B).
Josh Ritter was appointed Justice of the Peace for Precinct 4 during the Commissioners Court meeting held Wednesday, March 30, 2022 to fulfill the remainder of Judge Jackie Kirkwood’s term following his passing on January 29, 2022. The appointment term would have ended the end of 2022. Josh Ritter ran unopposed becoming a declared elected candidate in the November General Election.
The allegation of incompetence in the petition is detailed to be failure of JP Ritter to file reports of the activity in his office, including any monies collected, twice monthly with the County Treasurer. An example given was JP Ritter filed a report at the end of July 2022 and did not file another report nor turn in collected funds to the County Treasurer until the end of September 2022. The next report filed wasn’t until the end of October and then another on November 28, 2022. The petition reports any attempts to rectify the reporting timeline as well as accuracy of the reports has failed. The petition also mentions complaints from officials regarding being able to contact JP Ritter when on call or the public regarding current and delinquent tickets.
Official misconduct alleges an incident on or about November 28, 2022 in which JP Ritter entered the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center and directed the jail personnel to bring an inmate to him for interview, knowing the incarcerated individual was represented by counsel who was not present during the interview. JP Ritter is a licensed Texas lawyer, charged with knowledge of every inmate’s Constitutional Rights, State and Federal, and yet he failed to follow the law he is sworn to uphold and admitted same when asked by D.A. Price. The inmate interviewed by JP Ritter was Ethan Myers who was incarcerated on 1st degree felony charge of murder, a case currently under investigation.
In the petition, D.A. Price is seeking the immediate suspension of Joshua Ritter from office because of his acts of misconduct and /or incompetence in performing his statutory and Constitutional duties as required of any office holder. Along with suspension, District Attorney Price seeks the appointment of a person as JP Pct. 4, Shelby County pending further order of the Honorable Court.
Price was available to comment on the circumstances leading up to this suspension.
"No one ever wants to have to file a removal action on another office holder," said Price. "In this instance I'm just fearful that I can't trust that he'll follow the law, and if he doesn't know what the law is, that he will call."
Price stated she has offered to all of the Justice of the Peace anytime they don't know something to call and ask someone, including herself anytime.
"[He] has not reached out, not made any effort, so it leaves me with no choice," said Price.
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