AUSTIN, Texas — Burnet County Commissioner’s Court Judge James Oakley resigned Wednesday following a public reprimand alleging courthouse security violations and sexual harassment.
According to the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the issue with Oakley stemmed from a conflict between him and Justice of the Peace Lisa Whitehead.
Documents claim that Whitehead wanted to add security measures to her courtroom, but Oakley didn’t allow it, allegedly going as far as removing the lock on the courtroom’s door and even installing a keypad that would keep it permanently open.
Whitehead also claimed that Oakley made sexual comments about her and her husband and inappropriately touched her.
Oakley released a letter following his resignation:
“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. 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. 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.
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. My priorities are to protect my health / safety and that of my wife & family. As I am eligible for retirement, I have made the decision to resign my position effective Jan. 2, 2025 such that I can achieve other personal goals and projects.”
Oakley was first elected to the Burnet County Commissioner’s Court in 2014. Before that, he served as a Burnet County Commissioner for Precinct 4 from 1999 until 2006, as a member of the Regional Review Committee for HUD Community Development Block Grants under Gov. George W. Bush and as a member of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under Gov. Rick Perry.
He also served as a board member for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative from 2013 until 2016.