An onslaught of continuing litigation and a recent probe by the county attorney's office prompted the Burnet County judge to resign, effective Jan. 2.
“In recent years, the extreme lack of civility in public discourse has caused me to reevaluate how I want to spend my day-to-day life,” County Judge James Oakley wrote in the letter Dec. 18. He submitted the letter to Burnet County Attorney Eddie Arredondo.
“My priorities are to protect my health/safety and that of my wife & family,” Oakley wrote in his resignation letter. “As I am eligible for retirement, I have made the decision to resign my position effective January 2nd, 2025 such that I can achieve other personal goals and projects.”
Arredondo explained that he opened an investigation, following a recent report by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
“The commission did that report about the public reprimand, and it mentioned (Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace) Judge (Lisa) Whitehead and others, other individuals,” Arredondo said. “My office started an inquiry about the matters, started interviewing individuals."
“When we contacted Judge Oakley about these matters. He indicated that it was his intent to resign Jan. 2,” Arredondo added. “It (the commission report) said 'other individuals' and that led me to start looking into things. In the process of doing that, I contacted him, and he said 'I'm just going to resign and move on.'”
Oakley appeared before the commission Dec. 3, which was the culmination of their review of a complaint by Whitehead. The allegations stemmed from interactions with Oakley about keeping her courtroom at the Burnet County Courthouse locked. Whitehead also alleged that Oakley sexually harassed her and created a “hostile work environment.”
In other legal wranglings, despite acquittal by jury in 2023 on an abuse of official capacity misdemeanor, Oakley still faces revived alleged abuse of power indictment charges. The charges were quashed by a district judge but overturned on an appeal.
Oakley stated in the letter he will leave his position with the county after the first of the year “humbled and honored” by the accomplishments of the Burnet County Commissioners Court.
“I have been humbled and honored to have been elected by the public to serve the public as Burnet County Judge for the last 10 years,” he wrote. “Prior to that, I was equally honored to serve for 8 years as a Burnet County Commissioner starting in 1999.
“I’m most proud of the excellent financial condition of Burnet County as well as the land and facilities now in place,” he continued. “That includes the renovation of the 1884 Historic Jailhouse Museum & Visitors Center, Oakalla Schoolhouse, acquisition of the old Burnet Elementary School, the donation of 800 acres for public use, and other land & buildings to accommodate our growing citizen’s needs.”
Arredondo told The Highlander he would discontinue his probe due to the resignation.
“There were other complaints from other individuals of the same type of nature being harassing,” Arredondo said. “What I was working on becomes moot.
“My concern is the safety of the employees in the county.”
Arredondo explained that had his investigation continued, outcomes could have ranged from sensitivity classes to a petition presented to a district judge for removal from office.
“If he's no longer in the county, then the issue has become resolved,” Arredondo said.
