Petition to Remove JP Hicks Filed

Composed by Scott Flowers

July 12, 2018 - Jenny Hicks, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, is the subject of a petition for removal of office from her position as Justice of the Peace.

A petition filed in District Court by Shelby County Attorney Gary Rholes on Thursday, July 12, 2018 seeks the removal of Hicks from her office.

The document requests, Jenny Hicks should be removed from her office and alleges she is incompetent and has engaged in official misconduct as defined in the Texas Local Government Code.

The document further alleges, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Jenny Hicks does not keep any kind of office hours, making it impossible to file suits in Pct. 4., such as eviction suits, making it impossible for people to make any disposition of any traffic citations issued to them, and leaving citizens no means to regain the right to renew their licenses even after complying with all requirements to do so. The basic lack of a functioning J.P. Pct. 4, Shelby County, Texas is making a hardship on private citizens, other judges and law enforcement.

Petitioner further seeks the immediate suspension of Jenny Hicks from office, as authorized, because of the extreme hardship her conduct or lack thereof has caused innumerable people.

Along with suspension, petitioner seeks the appointment of a person as J.P. 4, Shelby County, Texas, pending further order of this honorable court.

Wherefore premises considered, petitioner requests that Jenny Hicks, respondent be served with a certified copy of this petition against her, and that the court call for a hearing on the suspension of Jenny Hicks, and for such further relief, including her permanent removal from office after a final trial and for all other relief to which petitioner may be entitled.

As previously reported by Shelby County Today on April 6, 2018, Hicks has been under investigation by the Texas Rangers and Shelby County District Attorney's office for the alleged offense of Theft by Public Servant/Official Misconduct involving her time as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Tenaha. The results of those investigations have yet to be produced.

Further information on those investigations can be found at the link following this article. Additional information involving this petition will be provided as the story develops.