The Dallas County Republican Party on Monday failed in an attempt to have a judge removed from a case that could disqualify 82 Democratic Party candidates from the general election ballot.

Kerrville's Stephen Ables, the administrative judge for the Sixth Judicial Region, said the GOP did not present evidence that state District Judge Eric Moyé was biased and could not properly preside over the controversial lawsuit. He made his ruling after hearing oral arguments from lawyers representing both parties.

Several Democratic judicial candidates who are targeted in the case hugged after the ruling. And state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said quietly that round one was over.

The suit, brought by the Dallas County Republican Party, contends that the candidates are ineligible to be on the ballot because Carol Donovan, the chairwoman of the Dallas County Democratic Party, didn't physically "sign" or certify the petitions that were ultimately accepted by the Texas secretary of state's office.

At one point it sought to disqualify 127 Democratic Party candidates, but the March 6 primaries whittled the number down to 82.

Donovan was criticized by some Democrats for her handling of the candidate petitions, but this month she easily won re-election to her post over Dallas lawyer Chris Hamilton.

Democrats and lawyers for those involved in the case have called the GOP suit a frivolous attempt to violate the voting rights of Dallas County citizens. Republicans say Democrats are violating election law and have themselves to blame for the mess.

Moyé could hear the case in the coming weeks.

Elizabeth Alvarez Bingham, a lawyer for the Dallas County Republican Party, argued that Moyé should be removed from the case because he recused himself in a similar lawsuit that landed in his court. That January case involved Justice of the Peace candidates Margaret O'Brien and Anthony Eiland, both Democrats.

Judges involved in four civil cases involving ballot or candidate issues recused themselves from the cases.

Moyé, a Democrat, is not up for re-election this year.

"It's quite clear that Judge Moyé has found himself unable to hear the case," Bingham said, referring to the reasons he gave for recusing himself the other election case.

Bingham said the GOP wasn't attacking Moyé's character, adding it was clear Democrats wanted him on the case because they believed he would act favorably on the 12 motions they filed to dismiss the lawsuit.

But Randy Johnston, a lawyer for the Dallas County Democratic Party, said there was no evidence presented that Moyé would be biased.

"I don't think there's any doubt about Judge Moyé's integrity," he said.