Natalie Weber / Houston Public Media

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee on Thursday denounced what he described as Fort Bend County Judge KP George's attempts to undermine the authority of Fort Bend County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson.

George, the top elected official in Fort Bend County southwest of Houston, had planned to call a vote during a commissioners court meeting this week to hire an outside law firm as general counsel for the county, but pulled the agenda item before Tuesday's meeting. The county judge also tried to hire outside legal counsel in July.

Both attempts sparked concerns that George was trying to replace Smith-Lawson, a fellow elected official, with an outside law firm. In Texas, county attorneys are elected officials who advise the commissioner

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