Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish has faced only one documented complaint from an employee during his tenure that began in January 2019, according to a records request filed by Lubbock Lights.
Details of the complaint
On August 3, 2025, Ernestina “Tina” Robertson, the Commissioners Court front administrative assistant, reported that Judge Parrish entered the front office at approximately 4:59 p.m. while she was finishing a work email. He told her he would sit for three minutes and asked her to notify him when the clock struck 5:01 p.m. He then announced he was turning off the office lights and asked if she could continue working without illumination.
Robertson replied, “yes sir,” and the judge remained seated in the dark until she informed him that the time was “5:01 with 12 seconds.” She later wrote that she felt “very uncomfortable with the Judge just sitting there in the dark not talking” and noted that he never explained why he was remaining seated for the three minutes.
Follow‑up with Human Resources
After considering whether to report the incident, Robertson sent an email to Human Resources Director Melanie Hall on August 5, 2025, titled “Concerned Employee.” Hall responded later that day and offered to meet later in the week. The two exchanged scheduling emails on August 6, with Robertson proposing the following morning and Hall suggesting Tuesday at 2 p.m. on August 11. Hall confirmed her availability, but the record does not show whether the meeting actually occurred or what, if any, corrective action was taken.
Records request and response
Lubbock Lights submitted a request to R. Neal Burt, civil chief in the district attorney’s office, on September 15, 2025, seeking any complaints or accusations of inappropriate, unethical, or criminal behavior made against Judge Parrish by employees or citizens over the last eight calendar years. The request covered complaints filed with Human Resources, the sheriff’s office, and other county agencies, while allowing the county to redact information deemed confidential by the Texas attorney general.
The county consulted the attorney general on September 29, 2025, about withholding certain information. On October 6, the county forwarded the records for review. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Irlbeck withdrew the request on October 23, stating that the documents were not the subject of a pending criminal investigation. The withdrawal came 38 days after the original request, and the county subsequently provided the three‑page email chain to Lubbock Lights.
Context and implications
The email chain is the only documented complaint found in the county’s records for Judge Parrish’s eight‑year tenure. No investigative findings, disciplinary actions, or further responses from the judge are included in the provided documents. While the incident raised discomfort for the employee involved, there is no indication from the available records that it escalated into a formal investigation or resulted in any official sanction.
County officials have not publicly commented on the matter beyond the standard procedural response to the records request. The lack of additional complaints or findings suggests that, at least according to the county’s disclosed records, Judge Parrish’s conduct has not generated further formal grievances.
What’s next?
Without confirmation of a meeting outcome or any subsequent action, the status of the employee’s concern remains unclear. Residents seeking more information may file additional public records requests or contact the county’s Human Resources department directly.
Original reporting: Lubbock Lights — read the source article.
