Updated at 4:30 p.m. with new information.

A state district judge will reconsider his order for Dallas County Republican Party Chairwoman Missy Shorey to pay more than $51,000 to Democrats for their legal fees incurred in a controversial GOP lawsuit to kick dozens of candidates off election ballots.

Elizabeth Alvarez Bingham, a lawyer for the local GOP, filed an objection to the order Monday night. Although state District Judge Eric Moyé had already ordered that the fees be paid, he set a hearing for arguments for Monday, May 14.

At issue is whether Shorey should be exempt from paying lawyer fees after not prevailing in the case because she's a public figure. Bingham also has objected to an intervenor in the case receiving fees.

Just Monday, Moyé entered his final order in the case, ordering plaintiffs to pay Democrats for the work of three lawyers in the case. The bulk of the $51,600 — more than $32,000 — was awarded to the Dallas County Democratic Party to pay its lawyer in the case, Randy Johnston. The action came after Moyé dismissed the case late last month.

Republicans had argued that 127 Democrats were ineligible for the March 6 primary because Dallas County Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Donovan did not "sign" candidate petitions that must be certified and forwarded to the Texas secretary of state. The number of candidates that would have been affected dwindled to 82 after the primary.

Moyé's order on Monday was thought to be the final action on the lawsuit, but Bingham contended she had originally been given all day to file an objection. The filing was received just before midnight. The courthouse typically closes at 5 p.m.

Before the hearing on the case began, Bingham tried unsuccessfully to have Moyé removed from the case. She has said Moyé's "level of impartiality is far to brazen to be permitted in a fair and free society."

"He always intended to rule in their favor and could not wait until his own deadline lapsed," Bingham said after Moyé's Monday ruling.

The judge has not commented on the case or his rulings.

Democrats charged that the GOP lawsuit was frivolous and designed to disenfranchise voters. Republicans contended that it was designed to force Donovan to follow the law.

Read the GOP lawsuit response here: