A Texas judge was almost killed last night outside her home in Austin, TX in what history assumes to be a targeted attack. Read the full story after the jump.
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Travis County District Judge Julie Kocurek almost lost her 16 year judgeship as well as life overnight at around 11:15 p.m. in the Texas capital’s Tarrytown neighborhood, said Austin police Lt. Lee Rogers.
Judge Kocurek is reported to be in stable condition at University Medical Center-Brackenridge, according to Lieutenant Rogers.
Austin police Cmdr. Mark Spangler told press that officers arrived on the scene within approximately five minutes of the initial 911 call.
Spangler disclosed:
“This injury, although extremely serious, does not appear to be life-threatening at this time. We don’t have a lot of information. Unfortunately, this occurred during the darkness.”
Now what makes this a possible assassination attempt.
There have been several cases over the years in Texas’ political history that hint this story’s footprints could possibly be following a path.
1.) In 2013, Prosecutor Mark Hasse was fatally shot outside the Kaufman County, Texas, courthouse, not far from Judge Kocurek’s home. Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland responded to that shooting by promising to put away the “scum” who’d killed one of his best deputies. Two months later, McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were found shot dead inside their home just east of Dallas. Eric Williams – who used to be the Kaufman County justice of the peace, was later convicted of capital murder in Cynthia McLelland’s death. Although Williams was not put on trial for the death of Michael McLelland OR Hasse, authorities do believe he is responsible for both murders. Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes linked all three killings to Williams’ “past legal problems with the criminal justice system of this county.” In 2012, Williams was removed from office as the justice of the peace when he was convicted of burglary and theft. Motive?
2.) Now let’s take it back to 2005. U.S. District Court Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow’s mother and husband were both found shot dead inside Lefkow’s house in Chicago. A defendant who’s case was dismissed by Lefkow, admitted to being the culprit behind the killings in a suicide note.
3.) Now for the theory’s possible inception. In 1988, U.S. District Judge Richard Daronco was executed once he dismissed a man’s case who’s daughter was an alleged victim of sexual discrimination. The judge was shot to death at his home in Pelham, New York.
Could Texas law officials really be that corrupt and are now being reimbursed for what they’ve done? Or is this just several cases of bad luck.
Kocurek has been the presiding judge of the 390th District Court since January 1999, and has been involved in several cases since that time which include high-profile political cases with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. House Majority Leader Tom Delay.
Kocurek has also been relatively present in Austin’s community, including serving as a local co-chair in the National Campaign to Stop Violence, a past board member of the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin and a supporter of the West Austin Youth Association.
