William Adams (Texas)
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William Adams was the judge for the Aransas County Court at Law in Texas.[1] He ran for re-election to the court in 2014 but was defeated in the primary on March 4.[2][3]
Elections
2014
See also: Texas judicial elections, 2014
Adams ran for re-election to the Aransas County Court at Law.
Primary: He was defeated in the Republican primary on March 4, 2014, receiving 46.6 percent of the vote. He competed against Richard Bianchi.
[4][5][3]
Education
Judge Adams attended the University of Texas at Austin for his B.B.A. and the University of Houston for his J.D.[6]
Noteworthy events
Judge seen on video spanking daughter with belt
A video recorded in 2004 apparently showed Judge Adams beating his daughter, Hillary, with a belt. It was posted on the Internet on October 24, 2011. Adams admitted to the act and said that "it's not as bad as it seems."[7] The judge had reportedly been upset about his daughter illegally downloading music and games online.[7]
Adams' daughter said she decided to post the video in response to her father's harassment. She also said that the violence captured was not the only act, but that "it had happened before, and had been escalating."[8] For his part in the situation, Adams said that he apologized years ago.[9]
Aftermath
After the video was published, some members of the public began contacting the Aransas County Sheriff's Office via email and telephone. In response, the county put the following statement on its website on November 2, 2011:
| “ | Judge Burt Mills has today announced that Aransas County is aware of the video posted on YouTube regarding County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams, and the matter is now under review by the Police Department. Please refrain from communication with County offices or the Sheriff's Department on this matter until the review has been completed. Calls, emails, and faxes only create disruptions for other ongoing county business. The public's cooperation would be most appreciated.[7][10] | ” |
The local police department opened an investigation regarding the video. Chief Tim Jayroe said Adams would probably have faced charges for injury to a child, but the statute of limitations had passed.[11] Adams said, "In my mind, I haven't done anything wrong other than discipline my child after she was caught stealing."[11]
A temporary restraining order was granted on November 10, 2011, that prevented Adams from seeing his ten-year-old daughter without her mother being present. The complaint was requested by the judge's now-former wife, Hallie Adams. She detailed allegations of maltreatment and drug abuse. A motion was filed by Hallie Adams' attorney that would require the judge to undergo drug testing.[9] Hallie Adams had also appeared in the video lashing their daughter with a belt.[7]
William Adams filed court paperwork on November 14, 2011, asserting his objection to the restraining order. His attorney, William Dudley, said the affidavit was "filled with opinion, conjecture, statements which are clearly not based on personal knowledge, and which precede the parties' final decree of divorce."[12]
Suspension
Adams was suspended by the Texas Supreme Court on November 22, 2011. The paid suspension was in effect until the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct completed its investigation.[13] The Supreme Court's order explained that the judge "voluntarily agrees to a temporary suspension from office, with pay."[14] Adams received nearly $49,000 in pay in the first four months of his suspension.[15]
Reinstatement
After nearly a year of suspension, Adams was reinstated to the bench in early November 2012. No criminal charges were brought against him. Part of the agreement lifting the suspension prohibited Adams from presiding over physical domestic abuse cases.[2]
See also
- Aransas County, Texas
- Texas County Courts
- News: Viral video raises ire toward Judge Adams, November 2, 2011
- News: Texas Supreme Court suspends Judge William Adams after viral beating video, November 23, 2011
External links
- Aransas County Court at Law website
- CBS/AP "Texas judge beating video causing outrage" November 2, 2011
- CNN "Texas judge confirms video of him beating daughter, says 'I lost my temper'" November 02, 2011
- Associated Press "Police Won't File Charges Against Texas Judge Caught on Video Beating Daughter" November 03, 2011
- rockportpilot.com, "Supreme Court issuesorder of suspension for Judge Adams," November 23, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ Texas Courts Online, "Directory of Trial Courts by County," February 27, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 NPR, "Texas Judge Who Beat His Daughter Is Reinstated To Bench," November 08, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Aransas County Board of Elections, Republican Primary Election Results 3/4/2014 (dead link)
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2014 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County (A-L)"
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2014 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County (M-Z)" (Search "Aransas")
- ↑ martindale.com Judge Profile: William Adams
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Houston Press, "Texas Judge William Adams Allegedly Beating Daughter: Horrifying Video (Updated)," November 2, 2011
- ↑ MSNBC.com, "Police probe alleged Texas judge beating video," November 2, 2011
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Corpus Christi Caller Times, "Temporary order prevents Judge William Adams from visiting younger daughter," November 11, 2011
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 ABA Journal, "Texas Judge Won't Be Charged re Viral Beating Video, Says Daughter Posted It Out of Spite," November 3, 2011
- ↑ Corpus Christi Caller, "Judge William Adams Fights to Block Restraining Order," November 14, 2011
- ↑ NPR, "Texas High Court Suspends Judge In Beating Video," November 23, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ LA Times, "Texas judge in beating video says he agreed to 'step aside'," November 23, 2011
- ↑ Corpus Christi Caller "Judge William Adams made $49,000 during first four months of suspension," March 4, 2012
