Texas Judge William Adams Reinstated By the Texas Supreme Court

On Tuesday, November 6, 2012, the Texas Supreme Court reinstated Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams. The Texas judge was initially suspended over a videotaped beating of his daughter that went viral. According to a CBS News article, “William Adams, Texas judge suspended over ‘videotaped beating,’ reinstated,” in November 2011, Adams was suspended with pay while an investigation was conducted by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Another CBS News editorial, “Suspension lifted for Texas judge taped beating daughter,” reported that the Texas Supreme Court reached an agreement between Adams and the commission. The agreement permits Adams to return to the bench immediately and he will be able to serve the Gulf Coast town of Rockport, a coastal community in Texas with approximately 8,000 citizens.


Caller.com column, “Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge Adams reinstated,” discusses that nobody knows when Adams will return to work, but officials at the Aransas County courthouse have increased security while waiting for the judge to resume his judicial duties. After the videotaped beating of his daughter was posted on-line, county offices received hundreds of threatening e-mails and phone calls, warning the county to release the judge. However, under Texas law, county officials do not have the authority to control the salary nor the employment of an elected judge. The Caller.com article also pointed out that Adams’ term will end in 2014. The judge has earned about $150,000 during his suspension.

Boston.com column, “Suspension lifted for judge in video beating,” explains that Hillary Adams, the judge’s older daughter, posted the 2004 video on YouTube about a year ago. The video depicts Judge Adams repeatedly beating his daughter, who was 16 years-old at the time, with a belt. The judge decided to whip his daughter for illegally downloading music.

My San Antonio (My SA) piece, “Suspension is lifted on judge seen in video of beating,” discusses that the seven and a half minute video received national attention. Hillary and her mother, Hallie Adams, were booked on several national talk shows to talk about the horrendous beating she endured by her father. Although Hallie Adams did not prevent the judge from beating Hillary, the mother now claims she was also a victim of abuse.

“William Adams, Texas judge suspended over ‘videotaped beating,’ reinstated,” describes the horrendous lashing. The Texas judge whips his daughter in the legs more than twelve times and you can see Adams fuming each time Hillary screams and refuses to be turned over for a whipping. The teenager pleads for her father to stop while he says, “Lay down or I'll spank you in your (expletive) face.”

According to the Boston.com editorial, Hallie expressed her frustration over the state commission and Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate the judge. She stated, “Hillary and I are both really sad today. I had really hoped the judicial review process would work. I had really wanted to see the public protected.”

Hillary, who is now 24 years-old, told My SA she was “embarrassed to live in Texas.” She continued to say, “The Supreme Court has no idea what it's done by allowing a mentally ill man to run a courtroom. They don't recognize psychological torture and manipulation, and they're going to hurt a lot more people by allowing him to continue in his job.” The My SA column acknowledges that the judge released a statement last year, which states that his daughter posted the video on-line only to get even with him after he financially cut her off and took away a Mercedes Benz she was driving.

“Suspension lifted for Texas judge taped beating daughter,” reported that the Aransas County district attorney said the statute of limitations has passed to file criminal charges against Adams. The beating had occurred seven years ago.

Caller.com editorial noted that the judge will not be able to hear some cases presented by the Texas Department of Family Protective services, which is responsible for investigating child abuse. Howard Baldwin, who is an Agency Commissioner, expressed in a letter to County Attorney Richard Bianchi that the division does not believe the judge can work in the best interest for parents and children in abuse cases. The Caller.com article continued to say that Baldwin originally wanted one hundred percent of the agency’s cases to be transferred to a district court. Speaking to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Bianchi asserted that the agency has now modified its demand to use cases only involving violence with children. Bianchi affirmed that these cases will be handled by a district court. The attorney also stated that the agency’s lawyers have already made the decision to move similar cases which would have been heard in Adams’ court to a district court.

The Caller.com story mentioned that the Commission on Judicial Conduct heard testimony from fifteen lawyers who practiced in Adams’ court. Of the fifteen lawyers, six made it clear that the judge could no longer be effective to serve since the video produced a public outcry and the public perception was that Adams would not be fair in cases involving assault, child abuse and family violence. There were six attorneys, however, who supported Adams return to the bench and all fifteen local attorneys admired the judge for his impartiality, fairness and knowledge of the law.

Will Adams face any type of punishment? The Caller.com editorial said it is unlikely that the judge will receive a public sanction. The article explains that from 2008-2011, more than four thousand complaints were filed against judges with the Commission on Judicial Conduct. Only seventy three public sanctions were distributed.

Linda Garcia, who is an executive assistant to Aransas County Judge C.H. “Burt” Mills, told My SA that Adams hasn’t notified the Aransas County Judge’s Office on whether he will return to his judicial duties immediately or at a later date. Linda declared, “We just don't know what's going to happen. He could just come in. He's allowed to go straight to work.”

According to MY SA, Hillary and Hallie both believe the judge should not handle cases which involve assault, child abuse and family violence. On November 6, Hallie proclaimed, “I've seen the legal system fail. I've seen the justice system fail, and now I've seen the review system fail.”

According to Caller.com, Adams has brushed off the video as a scheme created by his ex-wife, who is involved in a custody battle with the judge. Adams said Hillary and Hallie have capitalized on him after the video went viral. Hallie will continue to try to have the judge sanctioned. The ex-wife submitted her complaint to the commission. She believes Adams’ behavior during their marriage shows that her ex-husband is incapable of being a judge.