Commissioners appoint and swear in Thomas A. Mson as acting Brown County judge

The Brown County commissioners court on June 8 voted to appoint Thomas A. Mson as acting county judge effective June 8, 2026, under authority the court cited as Texas Government Code §26.017.

Judge Pro presented the order describing that Mson is a Brown County resident who meets the qualifications to serve and that the appointment is contingent on taking the constitutional oath and posting the required bond. The order, as presented, also states that certain duties remain assigned to Judge Sam Moss pursuant to an April 22 order by Presiding Judge Ben Woodward and that the appointee will be compensated in accordance with Texas Government Code §26.017(b).

The court moved, the motion was seconded, and the court voted in favor of the order. The oath was administered: Mson recited, "I, Thomas A. Mson, do solemnly swear ... that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of acting county judge of the state of Texas ... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States and of this state. So help me God." The court instructed the county clerk to deliver a certified copy of the order to Mson and to notify other relevant agencies.

The order includes language in the transcript that states "Shane Griffin is terminated"; the phrasing and context are unclear on the record and were read as part of the order during the meeting.

Why it matters: The appointment places an acting county judge in office to perform judicial and administrative county duties while noting limitations on duties assigned elsewhere; required bond, oath and compensation language were resolved on the record.

Next steps: The county clerk will file and distribute certified copies of the order and the appointee will assume duties subject to the exceptions noted in the court order.

Sources: Order read aloud by Judge Pro, oath administered on the record to Thomas A. Mson, references to Texas Government Code §26.017 in the court record.