judge was featured on viral video last fall beating daughter
Remember that south Texas judge who was shown on a viral video beating his teenaged daughter?
Aransas County Court at Law Judge William Adams was placed on suspension after the video was posted to YouTube by the daughter, who said she wanted to show his constituents what kind of person he is so they would consider defeating him for re-election.
Prosecutors said at the time they would not file criminal charges due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. The video was nearly seven years old when it was posted last November. There was also an on line petition drive to get Adams removed from the bench, but that also went nowhere.
That incident has turned out to be a gold mine for Judge Adams. The Corpus Christi Caller Times reports that since his suspension, with pay, last November, the judge has raked in an amazing $110,000 from you and me and all the other sucker taxpayers out there. In exchange for that money, Judge Adams has had to do absolutely no work. He has heard no cases, and hasn't even appeared at the courthouse.
State law says this is the way cases like this have to be handled, while the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which is made up of acting judges, attorneys, and representatives of the public, makes its decision. The suspension, with pay, was ordered by the State Supreme Court, which, as a group of judges, are all cronies of Judge Adams.
So far no word on when a decision will be made. The court could remove Adams from the bench, could order him disciplined, or could make the decision that no punishment is warranted.
The Caller-Times reports the case has led to questions being raised about whether County Courts at Law, which are established to handle misdemeanor and routine minor felony cases, like domestic violence and drunk driving, should be completely abolished, and all the cases handed to State District Courts.
