Plumbing 
Neto Luna
Uvalde County Justice of the Peace Ernesto “Neto” Luna, 76, died on April 6, and the county judge said five people have expressed interest in serving in the elected position.
The longtime official retired briefly, announcing his resignation in December of 2020, but went on to seek, and win, a return to the post in 2022.
Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell said the Uvalde County flag will fly at half staff for Luna on April 17, the day of his funeral service. Please see Page 10 for details.
Luna had served about 25 years as a judge when he resigned two years into a four-year term, after being reelected in 2018.
At the time, Luna said he wanted to spend more time with his family. Uvalde County Commissioners appointed Roland Sanchez to fill the remaining term.
Two years later, in 2022, he defeated Sanchez in the spring Democratic Party primary and Republican Party candidate Robert Moss in the November election. Luna garnered 60.25 percent of the 1,517 votes cast.
With repairs ongoing at the Uvalde County Justice Center, Luna had been holding court for months at the county courthouse.
“Judge Luna was not only a valued member of the Uvalde County family but was also a lifelong friend,” Mitchell said. “His vast experience and his judicial leadership will be sorely missed. Our condolences are expressed to the family.”
Last week, on April 10, Mitchell said county commissioners plan to appoint someone to hold the office until the general election in November.
He said commissioners will hold a closed session on April 22 to discuss the matter. At that meeting or shortly thereafter, Mitchell said commissioners should appoint someone.
Mitchell said last week that five people had expressed interest in the position, though he did not give their names. Anyone interested in serving as Precinct 6 JP may contact Mitchell’s office or any Uvalde County Commissioner to be considered for appointment. Because the primary elections have passed, the county Republican Party and county Democratic Party may each select someone to place on the ballot for the Nov. 5 election.
Justice duties
The Uvalde County budget allocates justices of the peace a yearly salary of $57,525, plus retirement and benefits.
Texas justices of the peace hear traffic and other Class C misdemeanor cases, civil cases and landlord and tenant disputes, preside over truancy cases and conduct inquests.
They also have magistrate duties, including issuing search warrants, arrest warrants, and summonses, accept criminal complaints, conduct initial appearance proceedings, evidence and detention hearings and set bail or other conditions of release for prisoners.
jkeeble@ulnnow.com, 830-278-3335
