Moran Takes Oath of Office

TYLER – Acting Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran has taken his oath of office. It was administered Friday morning by U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider at the Smith County Commissioner’s Court meeting. He was selected for the post earlier this week. The position became vacant last month when Joel Baker was suspended without pay by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. The suspension followed Baker’s indictment for violations of the state’s Open Meetings Act. Moran will serve as county judge until either Baker is reinstated or his term expires in 2018. Moran has not decided if he will run for the post then.

Moran, a former Tyler city council member, is an attorney with the Ramey & Flock firm. His current practice involves both transactional work and litigation. His primary areas of practice revolve around representing businesses. He began his legal career with Ramey & Flock in 2002, but then joined the firm of Snow, Fogel, Spence LLP when his family relocated to Houston in 2009 so that his son could attend a specialized school for the deaf. He has been named a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star by Texas Monthly Magazine in the practice area of Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy and Business Litigation. Before moving to Houston, Moran was elected three times as a Tyler city councilman and served as mayor pro tem. He has also worked on various legislative and economic development issues for municipalities.