Harris County Sheriff and Jail have been order to IGNORE and WHOLLY DISREGARD any order issued by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to release inmates.

Judge Hidalgo signed an emergency order to temporarily release inmates from the Harris County Jail.

About 1,500 inmates, who are facing non-violent charges with no past convictions for violent crimes, felony DWI or burglary of a habitation, initially fit the criteria for temporary release.

On Friday, the process came to a grinding halt when Judge Herb Ritchie of the 337th Criminal District Court ordered Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and the Harris County Jail to ignore the order issued by Hidalgo.

Ritchie argues Hidalgo does not have the authority to order the release of inmates. Ritchie’s order only applies to those facing felony charges, not misdemeanors.

The Order says, in part:

THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED and DECREED that the Sheriff of Harris County, Texas, as well as Harris County Pre-Trial Services Agency and the Harris County Community Supervisions and Corrections Department, SHALL IGNORE and WHOLLY DISREGARD any order and/or directive from the Harris County Judge regarding the issue of felony Pre-Trial Bonds or Personal Recognizance Bonds or any other order of release, as the same purports to affect felony inmates or probationers now in the custody of the Harris County Sheriff or the Harris County Community Corrections and Supervision Department, under the lawful jurisdiction of the 22 Harris County State District Courts.

Strong language from one judge to another.

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You can read the Houston Chronicle story by CLICKING HERE.