Jerry W. Bates

Professional career

• Bates, a retired Uvalde County Commissioner who retired in 2024, was appointed by the Uvalde County Commissioners on December 2, 2025 to run the day‐to‐day business of the county and perform administrative duties
• The Acting Constitutional County Judge for Uvalde County, Texas, serving in an interim role while Judge William R. Mitchell is suspended

Education

Additional information

• In summary: Jerry W. Bates is the interim administrative head of Uvalde County’s government and court administration, appointed by commissioners in late 2025, with a defined per‐diem salary and no judicial case‐handling responsibilities.
• Not covering judicial case duties — those are being handled by other judges, including 38th Judicial District Judge Kelley Kimble, former district judge Camile DuBose, and Judge Kirsten Cohoon.
• While Bates is the acting county judge, three other judges are handling Uvalde County court cases during this period.
• His role is administrative, not judicial, and he does not preside over trials or hearings.
• His appointment was made in response to the suspension of Judge Mitchell, who was removed without pay over an alleged act of official oppression.
• Bates has been married to his wife, Betty Jo, for over 50 years, and previously operated an air‐conditioning business.