Stop Texas Judge William Adams from presiding over child abuse cases.

The Issue

Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams presides over child abuse cases, making decisions about families that need protection from their abuser(s). Recently, Judge Adams' daughter Hillary Adams, now 23, posted a video on YouTube (http://youtu.be/mpqcrwcghx4) that shows her father lashing her with a belt and trying to force her to bend over her bed to be beaten despite her wails and pleas to stop.

The five-year statute of limitations for prosecution has passed, so no charges will be filed. Texas law allows for corporal punishment, so there are doubts as to whether the judge's actions constitute illegal abuse. This is an issue with many facets to examine. At the bare minimum, however, he should not ever be in a position to decide child abuse cases when his ideas of "discipline" are so controversial.

avatar of the starter
Stacey M. KananenPetition StarterMy name is Stacey Kananen. I have experienced, first hand, the effects of child abuse. My mom and all three of her children endured physical and sexual abuse from my father. My brother is in prison for murdering both of my parents. He took a plea and implicated me in the murders. I was blessed with a Not Guilty verdict but now that my private life has been splattered across the headlines and my trial has aired on CNN’s In Session, I have chosen to make the best of a bad situation and use my personal story to help others. Therefore, I have contracted with Berkley Books to publish my life story, which I am writing with co-author Lisa Bonnice, an award winning writer for MSNBC. Lisa and I have created the Amnesty for Abuse program in an effort to assist families in a way that I, a survivor, feel will be genuinely helpful. I know, from inside experience, what it’s like to grow up in a severely abusive home and not receive the help that is so desperately needed.
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This petition had 130 supporters

The Issue

Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams presides over child abuse cases, making decisions about families that need protection from their abuser(s). Recently, Judge Adams' daughter Hillary Adams, now 23, posted a video on YouTube (http://youtu.be/mpqcrwcghx4) that shows her father lashing her with a belt and trying to force her to bend over her bed to be beaten despite her wails and pleas to stop.

The five-year statute of limitations for prosecution has passed, so no charges will be filed. Texas law allows for corporal punishment, so there are doubts as to whether the judge's actions constitute illegal abuse. This is an issue with many facets to examine. At the bare minimum, however, he should not ever be in a position to decide child abuse cases when his ideas of "discipline" are so controversial.

avatar of the starter
Stacey M. KananenPetition StarterMy name is Stacey Kananen. I have experienced, first hand, the effects of child abuse. My mom and all three of her children endured physical and sexual abuse from my father. My brother is in prison for murdering both of my parents. He took a plea and implicated me in the murders. I was blessed with a Not Guilty verdict but now that my private life has been splattered across the headlines and my trial has aired on CNN’s In Session, I have chosen to make the best of a bad situation and use my personal story to help others. Therefore, I have contracted with Berkley Books to publish my life story, which I am writing with co-author Lisa Bonnice, an award winning writer for MSNBC. Lisa and I have created the Amnesty for Abuse program in an effort to assist families in a way that I, a survivor, feel will be genuinely helpful. I know, from inside experience, what it’s like to grow up in a severely abusive home and not receive the help that is so desperately needed.
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct
Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct

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Petition created on November 5, 2011