Alleged corruption in the court system has apparently led to multiple associate judges being appointed despite not residing in Dallas County — something Texas code requires.
Three Dallas County associate judges may no longer be able to hear cases after it was revealed that they apparently live outside the county. Judge Vonda Bailey of the 255th Family District Court recently raised concerns about this possible issue and said she was nearly attacked for shedding light on the subject.
“This shows not only the potential corruption that happens in family courts [but also] the retaliation that happens against judges for doing the right thing,” she told The Dallas Express.
Judge Bailey asserted that Judge Kimberly Brown swore in Lorna Bedard as her associate judge on Monday, June 26, “against direct orders from the HR department” and with full knowledge that Bedard was not legally permitted to serve in this role.
Chapter 54A of the Texas Government Code states that an associate judge must “be a resident of … one of the counties the person will serve” and that if the associate judge serves more than one court, they must be appointed “with the unanimous approval of all the judges under whom the associate judge serves.”
Judge Bailey told The Dallas Express she did not approve of Bedard’s appointment.
“We’re not following the law. I didn’t vote. She shouldn’t be hired,” Bailey claimed.
Furthermore, Bailey said rumors began circulating that Bedard was not a Dallas County resident, prompting her to investigate Bedard’s job application.
“Lo and behold, right there on the application, she wrote her address as Kaufman County,” Bailey declared. “I immediately brought it to Kim Brown’s attention, explained what the code said … and she disregarded what I said.”
Bailey claimed that while she has “gotten a plethora of support” for raising these concerns, she has also faced physical hostility.
“This morning, I was almost assaulted by another family district court judge — Sandre Streete,” she alleged to The Dallas Express on Tuesday.
“Myself and the [court] coordinator thought she was going to hit me,” Bailey continued. “I’m fearful. I don’t know what she’s going to do.”
She said the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office sent two additional bailiffs and marshals to the court, adding that she “absolutely” thinks Judge Streete’s actions were in response to being questioned about the associate judge’s appointment.
The Dallas Express reached out to Judge Streete for comment but received no response by press time.
Furthermore, it came to light that two associate judges in Dallas County Civil District Courts also apparently do not live in Dallas County.
Associate judges Tahira Merritt and Ronald Hurdle have heard cases in Dallas County Civil District Courts since 2022.
However, neither of them is currently authorized to hear cases in Dallas County after civil judges prohibited them from doing so last week while their residency is investigated.
Both Merritt and Hurdle reportedly live in Collin County.
The Dallas Express reached out to the associate judges for comment but received none by press time.