(Texas Scorecard) – A grand jury indicted Rains County Judge Linda Wallace, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct suspended her, and county commissioners moved to replace her over allegations she coerced a witness. This case is connected with the previous indictment and suspension of Justice of the Peace Robert Jenkins Franklin.
In May, Texas Scorecard reported on a federal lawsuit that alleges Franklin told defendant Coby Wiebe, “you take that deal boy or dead men can’t testify.” Wiebe accepted a plea deal three days later. The 8th District Court later dismissed the case in April after learning of Judge Franklin’s alleged death threats.
That month, a Rains County grand jury decided—in The State of Texas v. Robert Jenkins Franklin—that there was enough evidence against Franklin to return an indictment on two misdemeanor counts of official oppression and two felony counts of tampering with a witness.
The indictment also alleges Judge Franklin coerced and pressured Jennifer Patterson—his chief clerk—into signing a false affidavit in February.
On June 5, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct suspended Franklin without pay.
The case recently took on a new twist with the indictment against another elected official.
On June 30, a grand jury in the 8th District Court indicted Rains County Judge Linda Wallace, 72 years old, for allegedly coercing Patterson, “a prospective witness” in the criminal case against Franklin. The indictment clarified Wallace’s coercion as “pressuring [Patterson] as supervisor of her employment with intent to influence Jennifer Patterson to withhold testimony in the official proceeding.”
She was arrested on July 2, and her bond was set at $10,000.
Following the indictment, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct suspended Wallace without pay from her position as county judge on July 8. The suspension remains in effect until one of the following occurs: the charges against Wallace are dismissed, she is acquitted, the Rains County commissioners replace her, or the state commission takes further action.
County commissioners moved to replace Wallace with Brent Hilliard in a public vote. Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeremy Cook told Texas Scorecard they interviewed 10 people on July 8 and picked one. He declined to comment further on the matter.
Citizen Kriste Baker posted on Facebook after Hilliard’s selection, stating, “I was told he’s a local guy too! Let’s wish him luck as he steps into this very important postion[sic] for Rains County & all its Residents!”
If you or someone you know has experienced corruption at the local level, please contact our tip line: [email protected].