Commissioners to weigh next steps in judge appointment process

The Burnet County Commissioners Court could modify the process of appointing a new county judge or even make a decision March 11. It meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the the second-floor courtroom of the county courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St. in Burnet.

Burnet County commissioners are two months in to finding a replacement for former Judge James Oakley, who resigned his elected position in January. With no local, state, or federal policies in place for appointing a county judge, they created their own process. 

The Commissioners Court accepted applications for the position throughout January and, on Feb. 6, held a public forum with the three applicants: Chief Deputy Alan Trevino of the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, retired district Judge Gil Jones, and retired state administrator Bryan Wilson. 

Following a tie vote by the commissioners between Trevino and Jones on Feb. 11 and no action at the court’s Feb. 25 meeting, Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle put a discussion and possible action on the judge selection on Tuesday’s agenda. He told DailyTrib.com that, while a final decision is not guaranteed, a discussion is necessary to determine the next steps.

“I can’t set an expectation that we are going to select a county judge, but I put it on the agenda because I felt it was my duty to address it,” Beierle said. “We’re going to talk openly about what might be the next step in breaking the tie.”

The court may enter executive session under Texas Government Code Section 551.071, which allows legal consultation regarding the judge selection process, and Section 551.074, which permits private deliberations on personnel matters related to the appointment. But any decisions must be made in open court.

The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast on YouTube.

elizabeth@thepicayune.com