EstateofDenial.com gave it nearly a week, but our central Texas hometown newspaper, the Temple Daily Telegram, elected to not publish our letter to the editor regarding Bell County Judge Rick Morris’ ruling that dismissed the removal from office lawsuit filed by Williamson County Attorney Jana Duty against County Judge Dan A. Gattis. The merits of the case weren’t allowed to become an issue. The dismissal was based on a technicality in the law, a loophole.
In these days when taxpayers are clamoring for accountability and transparency with regard to their elected officials’ activities, we see this ruling as a significant story. The Telegram obviously doesn’t share that view.
Our column Williamson County ruling highlights public officials’ “free pass” for misconduct details the ruling and its implications. Here’s our letter to the paper:
Judge Rick Morris’ Friday dismissal of a lawsuit seeking to remove Williamson County Judge Dan Gattis from office for acts of incompetence and official misconduct seemed to receive no coverage. The “forgiveness doctrine” argument on which the ruling was based functionally allows a subversion of laws and other measures established to assure government transparency and accountability in the fulfillment of public office duties, including expenditures of taxpayer dollars.
The law says “An officer may not be removed from office for an act the official committed before election to office,” thus making re-election of an official a “clean slate” with any alleged misdeeds committed in a prior term “forgiven.” In these days when taxpayers grow increasingly tired of unresponsive and unaccountable government, the public should be aware of this “free pass” rewarding an unethical official’s ability to keep misconduct quiet until after their next election.
In their print edition, The Williamson County Sun is now referring to Gattis and his four commissioners as the “Wilco Five.” In light of their recent vote to file a grievance against Jana Duty with the State Bar of Texas, we think the Wilco War Council might be a more appropriate title. The “WWC” kind of has a ring. Maybe they’re fighting the war against public integrity?
Got some thoughts on this latest development that we hope to get put together soon.
Estate of Denial® provides news, analysis and commentary on abusive practices occurring in probate courts and via probate instruments (wills, trusts, guardianships, powers of attorney). We provide original perspective to educate the public regarding this growing threat to both individual freedoms and property rights.
