CORPUS CHRISTI — Former 148th District Court Judge Guy Williams still is a practicing attorney, but he says being denied an attorney's badge interferes with his ability to work at the Nueces County Courthouse.
Williams said he's in good standing with the state bar, so there's no reason he should be denied a pass and can’t believe his application for one was denied.
“I don't have any convictions, I don't understand why they're not giving me access,” said Williams.
For many, a trip to the county courthouse starts with waiting in line, putting your belongings through an x-ray, and walking through a metal detector; but if you have a courthouse badge, you skip the scan and pass freely.
Badges are given to courthouse employees, judges, lawyers and even media. Williams wants to know why he can't have one, and is willing to sue the county if he doesn't find out.
In March, Williams filed an open-records request to find out, among other things, why he's being denied a badge. Earlier this month he also sent notices to Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales and Sheriff John Hooper, threatening to file a lawsuit if he doesn't get answers by mid-November. For now, Williams can only speculate why he was denied.
“What I think is someone made a complaint with the Sheriff's Department about me being dangerous or carrying weapons -- I don't know,” said Williams.
He says that "someone" is a high-ranking county official; that official denied Williams’ allegations. The former judge feels like he's now the one being denied due process.
“I don't know what people are afraid of,” said Williams. “I've given no one any indication that I have a propensity towards violence or firearm violence.”
Williams said "being subjected to body searches" is "embarrassing and humiliating," especially as former colleagues look on. He said all of the cases against him have been dismissed or dropped except his May 2018 arrest for public intoxication. That trial starts Oct. 2, despite Williams’ attorneys and the Nueces County District Attorney’s office wanting those charges dropped. Judge Gail Loeb denied the dismissal in July.
KRIS 6 News contacted Canales’ office, who referred the question to the Sheriff's office. Hooper said he could not comment because of the possible lawsuit.
