Court refuses to remove Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare
FORT WORTH, Texas - A Texas judge dismissed a lawsuit against Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare.
Judge Tim O'Hare Sued
What's new:
The Texas District Court judge ruled that former state Rep. Lon Burnam’s allegations against O’Hare did not amount to official acts of misconduct or incompetency under Texas law.
The case was dismissed and cannot be appealed.
Arrest made amid public outcry as Tarrant County delays vote to close 100+ polling locations
After a hotly-contested Tuesday meeting, Tarrant County officials tabled a vote to close 40% of the county's polling locations ahead of this year's midterm elections.
The backstory:
Burnam filed the lawsuit earlier this month.
He was demanding that O’Hare be removed from office after he was kicked out of a Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court meeting last month.
Burnam claimed he was removed and banned from future meetings for criticizing O’Hare.
He was also arrested and charged with disruption of a meeting or procession.
Lon Burham (Tarrant County Jail)
Tarrant County Polling Locations Dispute
Big picture view:
The meeting in question was focused on the closure of more than 100 polling locations in the county ahead of this year’s November midterm elections.
O’Hare said the closure will save $1 million in taxpayer dollars, while opponents called the move a voter suppression tactic targeting areas where most residents are people of color.
Community reacts to Tarrant County's reduction in polling sites
Despite claims that the recent reduction in polling sites in Tarrant County was not politically motivated, a political science professor tells FOX 4 that past actions by county leaders show the move was made to help Republicans.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a news release from Tarrant County officials and past news coverage.