Panel issues public warning against judge who beat daughter

William Adams was seen lashing his daughter with a belt in an Internet video that she later posted. William Adams was seen lashing his daughter with a belt in an Internet video that she later posted. Photo: Michael Zamora Photo: Michael Zamora Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Panel issues public warning against judge who beat daughter 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

BROWNSVILLE - The Aransas County family law judge seen beating his then-teenaged daughter in a YouTube video has been issued a "public warning" by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, a serious ruling that stops short of recommending removal from the bench.

Judge William Adams has been on paid leave since November, when daughter Hillary Adams posted her shocking secret recording of the lashing, which occurred in 2004 in her bedroom after she'd illegally downloaded some music videos. She was 16 at the time.

"The Commission acknowledges that Judge Adams was not aware that he had been secretly videotaped, and that he was not the person who released the videotape on the Internet," the decision, released Tuesday, stated. "However, because Judge Adams regularly presides over and decides child custody, child abuse, and family violence cases, his private conduct did cast public discredit upon the judiciary and the administration of justice."

The approximately seven-minute video of Adams striking Hillary with a belt at least 17 times drew millions of Web views, and had Hillary and her mother, Hallie, making the national talk show circuit.

Adams maintained that his daughter posted the video to get back at him for threatening to take away her Mercedes-Benz and to reduce his financial support.

The judge's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The statute of limitations on child abuse cases had run out, so the video could not be used for criminal charges.

But the media maelstrom prompted the Commission to open an investigation, and Adams agreed to a paid suspension in the meantime.

"We acted right away with the cooperation of the judge to have that suspension order issued by the (Texas) Supreme Court to kind of calm everybody down so that we could do an investigation," said Seana Willing, the commission's executive director.

In terms of severity, a public warning is a step below a reprimand and two steps below a recommendation for removal.

She said the 10 months it took to make the decision was not excessive given the number of witnesses involved, the gravity of the matter, and that the 13-member panel of judges, lawyers, and citizens meets only six times a year.

"Even though it was a high-profile case, we had other cases that we were working on. Ten months is, I think, a normal amount of time to do a thorough investigation, have the judge appear before the Commission, and give the judge an opportunity to testify, have other witnesses come in and testify," Willing said.

On average, the Commission will get 1,200 to 1,400 complaints against judges in a year, though about half might be quickly found meritless.

Adams has 30 days to appeal, and in the meantime can request that the Texas Supreme Court lift the suspension so he can return to work, Aransas County Attorney Richard Bianchi said.

Until that happens, family court cases will continue to be handled by visiting judges. While the state has picked up the bulk of visiting judges' pay, the approximately 25,000-population county has had to absorb between $8,000 and $10,000 of their travel and unmet per diem expenses.

Should the Supreme Court reinstate Adams, the county has no authority to make him step down, Bianchi said. Adams is up for re-election in 2014.

lbrezosky@express-news.net