Bell County JP testifies as her trial begins
BELTON — A jury of four men and eight women will decide this week whether or not the facts in the case against a Bell County justice of the peace rise to the level of incompetence or judicial misconduct.
The jury won’t decide Bell County Justice of the Peace Claudia Brown’s innocence or guilt. The decision will be based only on the evidence presented in court, Bell County Assistant Attorney Dallas Sims said during jury selection.
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Fernandez also brought racial prejudice into his opening argument, and said it was one part of the case even though many people don’t want to talk about it.
He said in 2017 several wealthy Bell County lawyers, led by Killeen lawyer Brett Pritchard, decided to file a petition to remove the black judge from her position.
“They couldn’t stand the thought of a black woman in a leadership position,” Fernandez said.
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Bell County Justice of the Peace Claudia Brown approaches the Bell County Justice Complex Monday morning for the first day of a trial that will decide if she will be removed from her elected position. Brown was escorted by a supporter who declined to give his name.
