Former Harris County employee sues Judge Hidalgo for discrimination, retaliation

Who's involved

• Tera Roberson · Former employee in Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's office; plaintiff in discrimination and retaliation lawsuit^[2]
• Lina Hidalgo · Harris County Judge^[2]
• Angelica Kauffman · Chief of staff to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo^[2]
• John Mone · Former news reporter hired by Hidalgo; now consultant for county judge-elect Letitia Plummer^[2]
• Erika Owens · Harris County Human Resources director^[2]

The facts

1. Roberson, a Black woman and mother of two, was hired by Judge Hidalgo in February 2024 to assist with multimedia communications and storytelling on social media and other platforms.^[2]
2. One month before her termination, Roberson was promoted to a leadership role in Hidalgo's office.^[2]
3. Roberson filed a complaint with Harris County Human Resources and Risk Management on November 11, 2024.^[2]
4. Eleven days after requesting an update on her discrimination complaint, Roberson was fired, according to the suit.^[2]
5. Roberson was officially fired for an 'ongoing or repeated inability to communicate effectively with Judge Hidalgo,' according to the suit.^[2]
6. According to the suit, Roberson said termination was the first time the communication issue had been brought up, and she had never been written up or disciplined prior.^[2]
7. Roberson and John Mone, a white former news reporter, were asked by Angelica Kauffman, Hidalgo's chief of staff, to co-lead Hidalgo's communications team.^[2]
8. Roberson is suing for race and sex discrimination, as well as retaliation.^[2]

Who said what

• Tera Roberson Hidalgo's staff openly discussed that the judge 'preferred white men' for certain roles within her communications department, and this was the reason she was passed over for a promotion.^[2]
• Tera Roberson 'One would like to believe that when you follow the process and make a complaint, that it will be looked at properly. Instead, the exact opposite happened to me. Once I was informed they were looking into it, I was fired almost immediately.'^[2]
• Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's spokesperson The allegations are false. Judge Hidalgo's administration has appointed qualified and accomplished women, including women of color, to key leadership positions within her office and various county appointments. Her administration has a strong record of elevating women to positions of authority at the highest levels of county government.^[2]
• Angelica Kauffman, Hidalgo's chief of staff According to the suit, Kauffman allegedly indicated to Roberson that John Mone, who is white, was Hidalgo's preferred choice to eventually serve as the sole communications director.^[2]