Bryan Wilson new Burnet County judge
Newly appointed Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson speaks after his unanimous selection by county commissioners March 11. Wilson outlined his 100-day plan, focusing on public safety, budget reform, and addressing mental health and indigent services. Staff photo by Elizabeth De Los Santos
Burnet County commissioners unanimously appointed former state official Bryan Wilson as the new Burnet County judge Tuesday, March 11. Wilson fills the vacancy left by James Oakley, who resigned as judge in December following a reprimand for sexual harassment from the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Wilson was one of three candidates who applied for the position; Chief Deputy Alan Trevino of the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office and former 33rd Judicial District Judge Gil Jones being the other two.
The Commissioner Court’s decision came after a 2-2 tie vote Feb. 11, with commissioners Jim Luther and Joe Don Dockery supporting Jones and commissioners Damon Beierle and Chad Collier backing Trevino.
Ultimately, all four changed their votes to Wilson.
“I’m very pleased,” Wilson said Tuesday. “I’m excited to do the work, to get back into the budget, and to start right away.”
Commissioner Luther, who nominated Wilson, explained his vote.
“Since the court had not been able to come to a consensus before today, I felt strongly that it was time to consider an alternative solution in the appointment of Mr. Wilson,” he told DailyTrib.com. “His resume is impressive, and I believe he has the skills necessary to lead Burnet County through the current term of office.”
Luther added that he originally did not vote for Wilson due to his constituents aligning with Jones.
“The contacts I had received leaned heavily towards Judge Jones,” he said. “The total number of contacts received by the court via the prescribed process was less than one percent of the Burnet County population, so while I value and appreciate the citizen input, I did not feel I had received a mandate for any candidate.”
Commissioner Collier also explained his change of heart.
“Time mainly, looking deeper into (Wilson’s) application, having conversations on his plans and conversations with the people of Burnet County,” he said.
Commissioner Dockery added that Wilson was a viable choice moving forward.
“He was presented to me as a third option. He was an option that I was hoping we could come to a consensus on, and, obviously, we did,” Dockery said. “I think highly of Bryan, and I think he’ll do a good job.”
Commissioner Beierle also spoke well of Wilson.
“Bryan Wilson is obviously a qualified candidate,” he said. “(He) has proved through his application and the workshops we had that he is qualified for the job. I think that he’s going to do a great job, and I look forward to working with him.”
Beierle took issue with allegations made during the public comments portion of Tuesday’s meeting that intimidation and coercion were used by some parties during the appointment process.
“My biggest fear is that if we don’t take action on (appointing a judge), (the allegations are) going to get worse in this courtroom,” Beierle said at the meeting. He later added: “Our court is not supposed to be a political platform for attacks and accusations.”
WILSON’S BACKGROUND AND PRIORITIES
Wilson has experience in government administration, grant management, and policy development. From 2014-22, he was the director of the Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, overseeing grant funding for law enforcement programs. He previously worked as a grant administrator for the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, where he helped establish state-funded legal defense programs, and as a grant manager with the Texas Supreme Court’s Permanent Judicial Commission on Children, Youth, and Families. His experience also includes positions with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where he was involved in litigation and policy management.
As he begins his new role, Wilson outlined a 100-day plan with three key priorities: public safety, budget reform, and assisting people in crisis.
He said a comprehensive public safety review will be one of his first initiatives.
“Number one, we’re going to look at public safety,” he said. “Working with the Commissioners Court, sheriff, emergency management, and local ESDs (emergency services districts) to identify the needs of Burnet County.”
Budget reform is another central focus for Wilson.
“I’ve actually written a performance-based budget system that I forwarded individually to each of the commissioners about a week ago so they can see what kind of system that looks like and how we can hold our departments and elected officials accountable for the money they spend,” he said.
Addressing the needs of people in crisis—including those requiring indigent healthcare, indigent defense, and mental health services—is also a priority. Wilson used the county jail system as an example to describe the need for closer attention.
“We really need to look at how our county is serving people in crisis,” he said. “There are individuals in our jails for offenses like criminal trespass simply because they are seriously mentally ill. We need to ensure we’re addressing those issues appropriately.”
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026
Wilson has not yet decided whether he will run for a full term as county judge in 2026, saying he and his family will take time to consider the decision before the filing period opens this November.
“For now, I’m focused on helping Burnet County and serving in the capacity I was appointed to,” he said.
4 thoughts on “Bryan Wilson new Burnet County judge”
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The newly-appointed Burnet County Judge, Bryan Wilson, has made it clear that he is undecided. That is quite different from someone who announced his candidacy even before the application process began.
So for those now playing “what if” I ask this: if that feature is so important to you now, why was it not when I was the sole applicant clearly stating from the beginning that I would not run? Hmmm?
Hahahahahah.
If he runs, would this appointment constitute an unfair advantage to an incumbent?
It’s an important question. People are curious why Chief Deputy Trevino received the treatment of having an “unfair advantage.”