BURNET, Texas (KXAN) — Burnet County Judge James Oakley has resigned. It comes after years marred by legal troubles and sexual harassment claims against him.
Oakley would have normally been at Thursday’s Burnet County Commissioners Court meeting. But a day earlier he handed in his resignation to Burnet County Attorney Eddie Arrendondo.
“You’re going to naturally have a lot of questions about what happens next,” Arrendondo said. “I respect that and I understand that, but this happened yesterday and so it’s not on the agenda for today.”
KXAN reported back in November Oakley was indicted in 2023 on several criminal accusations, including abuse of office, official oppression and tampering with evidence. A jury found him not guilty of one charge, and a judge threw out the other charges. However, a panel of judges from the Third Court of District Appeals recently ruled that judge “erred” in his decision.
The claims centered around two different issues: Oakley’s role as a Pedernales Electric Cooperative board member while also serving as Burnet County judge and, separately, the handling of a vehicle collision in 2021.
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct reprimanded Oakley on Dec. 11. One of the things he’s accused of is removing the lock to Justice of the Peace Lisa Whitehead’s courtroom door. Whitehead ended up filing a formal complaint over safety concerns after she said she could not find a “workable solution” with Oakley.
Oakley also faces allegations of sexual harassment from Whitehead that stem from 2023 and for creating a “hostile work environment.”
KXAN reached out to Oakley for comment, but he has not replied. We will update this if we receive a response.
Whitehead released a statement and said, “I appreciate the State Commission on Judicial Conduct and their thoroughness of their investigatory process resulting in the Public Reprimand of James Oakley,” she said. “In that opinion, the findings of fact and Commission’s conclusion say it all.”
Oakley was elected in 1998 as a Precinct 4 Commissioner in a job that he held for eight years. He was elected as county judge in 2014 and was reelected twice.
In a statement to KXAN, the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office said there are “no new charges at this time surrounding [Oakley’s] resignation.” The sheriff’s office said there are other pending criminal charges still against him.
You can read the reprimand below.
Oakley’s resignation is set to be discussed during the Commissioners Court Jan. 3, 2025 meeting.
A temporary judge will be assigned until voters can choose a new judge. That new judge would finish out Oakley’s term, which is set to expire in 2026.
Avery Travis contributed to this report.
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