New JP appointed in high-profile case
Colo. Senator Suzanne Williams
A Hartley County Justice of the Peace will no longer preside over a fatal traffic crash case involving a Colorado state senator.
An interview with a Panhandle newspaper is apparently leading Justice of the Peace Edwyna Womble to step away from presiding any further over Colorado Sen. Suzanne Williams' traffic case.
Hartley County Judge Ronnie Gordon told Pronews 7 that he received a fax from Womble recusing herself from the Williams case.
Williams was issued citations accusing her of driving on the wrong side of the road, not having a child in a seat belt and not having a child in a safety seat. The citations stem from the Dec. 2010 fatal traffic crash in Hartley County where Amarillo pregnant mom Bri Gomez was killed. Her unborn son, Curran, was delivered by cesarean section before Gomez died.
A Hartley County grand jury declined to indict Williams in the case back in May. Instead, Williams was cited on the three misdemeanor charges.
According to Hartley County Attorney Shane Turner, Williams had pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor citation of driving on the wrong side of the road. She paid the fine of $200 as well as $68 in court costs.
Justice of the Peace Womble told Pronews 7 last week that she had not accepted the plea agreement signed by Sen. Suzanne Williams.
"Basically I want her to go by the law (and to do) what is acceptable by the State of Texas," Judge Womble said. "It's time to get closure to it but it has to be done right."
To see the letter from Womble to Williams' attorney, click here.
Gordon said that Womble cited a conflict of interest as the reason for removing herself from the case.
The Amarillo Globe News is reporting that the conflict occurred when Womble agreed to speak publicly about the case to the Dalhart Texan on Oct. 11.
In the Dalhart Texan, she was quoted as saying, "I want to be a thorn until she is held accountable. And, you may quote me on that."
Gordan said he received Womble's fax Tuesday morning. He appointed Justice of the Peace Debbie Horn of Precinct 1.
Justice of the Peace Horn told Pronews 7 she had agreed to take the case. She hadn't received any specific information on the case and was therefore unable to comment further on the matter.
