Lisa Birkman                        Gwen Hodges               John Bradley


It’s been an interesting week to say the least in Williamson County. We’ve had everything from County Commissioner’s engaging in verbal altercations with poll workers to Precinct Chairs having meltdowns.

Last Sunday brought an endorsement by the Austin American Statesman for Jana Duty as next  the District Attorney. A few minutes after the endorsement, one source close to Bradley said Bradley went into a rant described by the source as a "temper tantrum fitting of a 3 year old".

On Tuesday, Lee Ann Seitsinger, candidate for Precinct one Commissioner was endorsed by her opponent’s own in-laws. According to sources, that didn’t sit very well with Seitsinger’s opponent Lisa Birkman who began confronting Seitsinger at the polls on a daily basis.

On Thursday, the State Bar of Texas found the complaint filed by the Texas Coalition for Lawyer Accountability against Ken Anderson will move forward. He has the choice of going before a grievance panel or a district court hearing. After a thorough investigation the grievance again Mike Davis was dismissed. John Bradley is still under criminal investigation by the Travis County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit and also the State Bar of Texas.

Also on Thursday, Lisa Birkman confronted a Seitsinger poll worker. The two engaged in a heated conversation that ultimately had to be “broken up” by the elections judge stationed at the poll.

Then on Friday, we read what must be the most comical letter to the editor of this campaign season. A letter was published from Gwen Hodges, one of John Bradley’s biggest supporters and resident of Berry Creek in Georgetown. We have highlighted Hodges several times on the Wilco Watchdog blog based on her bizarre rants and public comments. Hodges has apparently stepped on more toes than an 8th grade girl at her first prom dance and is taking a heavy dose of pushback. Ms. Hodges apparently feels she is in some way exempt from being challenged when she makes such comments. We beg to differ. Gwen Hodges is an elected official. We expect our elected officials to hold themselves to a higher standard and we will shine the spotlight on them in order to hold them accountable. If Ms. Hodges doesn’t like the spotlight, she might consider not running for re-election in July. If she does seek re-election, she is guaranteed an opponent.

In closing, we appreciate Gwen publishing the Watchdog’s name in her letter. We should pick up a few more readers thanks to her letter which will ultimately provide even more folks another perspective into Williamson County government. A viewpoint that is sorely lacking and well received by thousands of Watchdog viewers. With that said, we tip our hat to you Gwen. Thanks!

With Hodges letter brought a rebuttal written by Greg Sherwood, an appellate attorney who said:

“Ms. Hodges needs to be reminded that: (1) John Bradley has misled voters into thinking he passed the Criminal Appellate Law certification exam, when in fact he "waived in" because he was already certified in criminal law, (2) that when the Texas Senate, controlled by conservative Republicans, refused to confirm Mr. Bradley's appointment to the Texas Forensic Sciences Commission, Bradley claimed that "liberal Democrats" in the Texas Senate (of which there are few, if any) were responsible for this, (3) that DA Bradley fought DNA testing in the Morton case for 5-6 years, and then when the DNA evidence pointed to another man, who may have murdered another Austinite a few years later, Bradley tried to take credit for Morton's exoneration, and (4) that Bradley has recently used a picture of 4 school-aged children on his facebook page claiming they are voting-age supporters of him, which is either a very bad joke, or borderline child exploitation. Enough is enough, people! Williamson County voters need to decide whether they are going to continue to put up with politicians who play fast and loose with the truth, and whine like babies when someone points out their erroneous statements. I do agree with Ms. Hodges on one point -- people in Williamson County should vote in the May 29 primary to prevent "few people from making the crucial choices."

Now, we have very credible sources that say Rick Perry will politicize the Veterans Day memorial event in Sun City on Monday by interjecting a “stump speech” in support of John Bradley. According to Bradley, who has never served in the armed forces and apparently has no problem with this conduct stated: “on Monday, Governor Rick Perry will speak at Sun City in honor of our veterans. Bet he also mentions the good work that has been done in Williamson County to divert veterans from the criminal justice system or provide critical counseling and treatment for those who can benefit from supervision rather than confinement.” How does Bradley know what Governor Perry will say? Why would Bradley think for one second this behavior is acceptable? For Mr. Perry to come to an event memorializing Veterans and then interject politics would be a huge dishonor to the service of our veterans and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to our country.

With the formation of this group, given the timing of this event, things may get very interesting in Sun City on Monday. (See video below from www.veteransforduty.com)

On February 7, 2012, Bill Torrey, a criminal defense attorney in Cameron in Milam County was quoted in the Statesman as saying, "I can't imagine why anyone would want to swap probably one of the best district attorneys in the state”, speaking of John Bradley

Rewind back to 1992. A man by the name of Anthony Graves was convicted of murdering 5 people. No evidence connecting him to the crime, no motive and the only witness recanted his testimony before he was put to death for his role in the murder.

In October 2010, Anthony Graves was finally exonerated and released from prison (and death row).

The murder occurred in Burleson County. The District Attorney who headed up the prosecution in 1992 was Charles Sebesta. Who assisted? His assistant District Attorney, Bill Torrey.

Read the article from the Texas Monthly for details of this case by clicking here. You can also watch the case that “48Hours” profiled by clicking here.

According to several sources, Jana Duty sent an earthquake throughout Williamson County today with what one political consultant is calling "the death nail” to John Bradley’s “political coffin”. According to a press release we obtained, Duty was endorsed by Mark Landrum, the jury foreman in the 1987 trial of Michael Morton. Below is the press release:

                                           

We called on John Bradley to prove his certification in criminal appellate law was valid in April when it became obvious there were several questionable issues related to his application. Read here for details.

A public information request was filed to obtain copies of John Bradley and Kristin Jernigan's applications that were filed early in 2011. The response received regarding the request is below: 

“On April 3, 2012 the Williamson County District Attorney’s office received your request for public information. Your original request enclosed. Pursuant to your request, our office conducted a good faith search for any and all information related to your request and has not been able to locate information that may be responsive to your request. Therefor the request is considered closed”

The above response was prepared by Tommy Coleman, the Assistant DA who has a history of not turning over exculpatory evidence and mocking the bloody bandana that ultimately freed Morton.

How can they not have any information responsive to the request?  Did they not keep copies of governmental records when they were submitted to the Board of Legal Specialization? They expect the public to believe a copy of the applications and supporting documents of something so important as board specialization certification was not made prior to filing?

Was the application fees paid for by tax dollars?

This is just another example of John Bradley’s long history of fighting public information requests in order to hide what he doesn't want the public to see. A public information request is only as effective as the honestly of the person that receives the request. Based on John Bradley’s lack of honesty, we aren’t surprised.

What is John Bradley and  Kristin Jernigan trying to hide?

               


As John Bradley was riding on a float in the Poppy Fest parade this morning, two media outlets were riding him.

The Williamson County Sun reported on Bradley's grievances pending at the State Bar of Texas while NPR published a very detailed report on the Michael Morton case.

The more information that is published, the more desperate John Bradley becomes. He was quoted in the Williamson County Sun as saying "This case was not tried by my office; it was 25 years ago by a different prosecutor. Judge Billy Ray Stubblefield's decision was made in court with the best information that was available at the time, including information that showed the bandana was potentially contaminated and was not collected with proper chain of custody".

Bradley cannot and will not accept responsibility for his mishandling of the Morton case. Bradley was quoted as saying "I handled the DNA testing accurately and productively". Perhaps John Bradley forgets he fought advanced DNA testing of the bandana for 5 years all the while saying Morton's attorneys were searching for a “mystery man” and “grasping at straws.” The 3rd Court of Appeals ultimately ruled in Morton's favor and ordered the testing. The same John Bradley while at a private party last Friday said he "will not apologize for the way he handled the Morton case” and “did nothing wrong”.

What Bradley forgets to tell you is Judge Stubblefield ruled based on Bradley’s “information”. Bradley fought the testing, not Judge Stubblefield. Bradley withheld evidence from being turned over to the defense, not Judge Stubblefield. And Bradley mocked the evidence and Michael Morton, not Judge Stubblefield. We can only wonder what Judge Stubblefield thinks about being the latest victim of the “Bradley bus”.

John Bradley's desperate attempt to make excuses to cover his own backside and sling blame on everyone else is baffling.

John Bradley mocked Michael Morton and the evidence against him for 20 years, beginning in 1991 and ramping up that fight in 2005. Not until he was court ordered by the Court of Appeals was the evidence tested and Morton freed. For John Bradley to try to fool the public by saying "we joined in helping in Morton’s release" is so disingenuous. The disdain for Bradley has spread far and wide leading folks to now mock Bradley. One person commented on a recent story posted on the Statesman:

"GEORGETOWN TX: Mark Alan Norwood has just announced he has endorsed John Bradley for reelection as District Attorney.

“No one has done more to keep me out of prison or to denigrate the evidence against me than John Bradley,” Norwood said. Norwood went on to say “I thank God every day I will probably skate prosecution thanks to the hard work of John Bradley belittling the evidence against me to the point it gives my defense team an opportunity to argue its validity”

Norwood says he plans on opening a small shop selling bandanas and taking up residence in Williamson County once he is released."

Bradley was quoted in the Sun saying “The public knows that anyone with a typewriter can write a complaint” when asked about the latest 117 page grievance pending against him at the State Bar of Texas. The “typewriter” mentality of John Bradley’s archaic office must change.

Will the State Bar dismiss the latest complaint? Of course they will. Not based on merit, but on politics. The State Bar of Texas will not hold John Bradley accountable, that is perfectly clear. Even though the lengthy 117 page complaint was filed last week, the State Bar will rush to have the complaint dismissed quickly so Bradley can parade a dismissal letter to the media prior to Election Day. Only the voters of Williamson County can hold Bradley accountable. That begins on May 14.

See the NPR story here

See the Williamson County Sun story here
 

In 1987 Morton was wrongfully convicted in a trial led by then District Attorney Ken Anderson who is now a sitting district judge. Evidence that ultimately set Morton free was withheld from Morton’s defense team.

Morton maintained his innocence throughout his twenty five year wrongful incarceration and waged many court battles along the way to prove his innocence and was fought at every turn.

The teacher/mentor duo of Ken Anderson and John Bradley tagged teamed this effort and still to this day, both refuse to accept responsibility.

John Bradley says the ink on his law license was “barely dry” when the case was tried and Anderson says he doesn’t recall. District Attorney John Bradley began his fight to keep Morton in prison in 1991 when he filed his first motion to fight testing of evidence and continued until he had no choice but to stop.

John Bradley would have everyone believe he now is an innocent bystander in this travesty of justice. However, it is well documented that he not only fought DNA testing of the bloody bandana, he also fought turning over the crucial documents that led to the real killer. A killer who was left on the street to kill and assault others for 25 years.

John Bradley fought turning over the files that were hidden from the defense but was ordered by the Attorney General to turn those files over which led to new clues that aided in the release of Morton.

John Bradley feverishly fought DNA testing of the bloody bandana beginning in 2005 and continued to do so until he was ordered to do so by the Texas Court Appeals. He mocked the bloody bandana on multiple occasions with attempts to discredit and downplay its importance.

Bradley continued fighting the results of DNA testing until October 3, 2011 when he had no other choice but to give up thanks to a break in another cold case in Travis County. The Baker murder.

Raley stated “nearly seven years ago” he filed a motion and it was “a long hard fight just to get the bandana tested”.

Quotes from John Bradley regarding the bloody bandana:

The bloody bandana was “irrelevant”.

“One has to wonder whether petitioner would file another motion at some future date seeking additional testing of even more items.”

Bradley repeatedly mocked Mr. Morton's claim that DNA testing on the bandana and other items could possibly be linked, in Mr. Bradley's words, to "a mystery killer".

"Prior to her death, Christine sustained a minor injury while in the area behind her property and used the previously-discarded bandana to wipe away her blood",

Bradley derided Michael Morton’s request to test the evidence in light of the unsolved case as “silly,” and he told Rick Casey of the Houston Chronicle that Morton was “grasping at straws” by refusing to give up his quest for DNA testing.

Bradley also stated in 2008: "The public might want to remain skeptical of a defendant who to this day doesn't accept responsibility," during his fight against testing DNA, especially the bloody bandana.

Bradley argued that the bandana with the case-solving DNA was irrelevant because it was found “a football field’s length” away from the murder scene.

“It should not incorporate the possibility of a match of any DNA profile recovered from the bandana to a known offender.”

Bradley said that a good step “might be to get a written agreement that all the evidence can be destroyed after the conviction and sentence. Then, there is nothing to test or retest."

“Open-mindedness is kind of wishy-washy.” – John Bradley

In 2009 letter to the parole board, Bradley wrote: "Ask Michael Morton if he has accepted responsibility for the murder of his wife by mercilessly beating her to death. If he tells you that he now acknowledges he committed that crime, please notify me and I will reconsider my opposition to his parole," 

Many have often asked why Bradley would fight DNA testing and turning over files related to the Morton case to Morton’s attorneys. We may never know; but given the recent revelations of Bradley’s true character and lack of integrity when he was caught lying on video several times, the picture becomes much more clear.

But, seeing how John Bradley has thrown his mentor under the bus to save his own political hide throughout this entire ordeal, don’t think for a minute that Ken Anderson hasn’t grabbed the keys to the bus and is ready to hop in the driver seat when it comes to opening up about Bradley. That all begins, on September 11, 2012.

In closing, who do you think will foot the bill for this? You got it, the taxpayers of Williamson County. Thanks to John Bradley and Ken Anderson, more tax dollars will be spent because of their actions. So far their actions by mishandling this case have cost taxpayers millions. This court of inquiry will only add to that tab. But, if the court of inquiry finally brings justice and holds them accountable, that will be money well spent.

Last month Michael Morton said he “expects voters will hold him (Bradley) accountable at the ballot box”. That happens in 37 days.  


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Last night we wrote that John Bradley stated at the Williamson County Republican Convention last Saturday (and also posted on his facebook page) that “public safety is a core Republican value and that party unity matters”.

John Bradley, while being interviewed on March 4, 1996 stated “he has always voted in Democratic primaries”. Based on official records, he never voted in a Republican Primary in Williamson County until 2006.

Political opportunist?

Now, John Bradley touts his “concern” for the safety and protection of our children as his biggest platform. Last year, we dug up cases where felony child predators were given a slap on the wrist with deferred adjudication and hardly any jail time by Bradley.

One predator was released by the Williamson County DA and went on to prey again, on another person he thought was a 14 year old girl. Little did he know it was an episode of the national television show “To Catch A Predator” and he was again arrested. Click here for details.

According to official statistics, in 2011, there were a total of 45 cases of Indecency with or sexual assault of a child disposed in the DA’s office. Out of those 45 cases, only 17 were “convicted”; 4 by trial and 13 by plea agreement. 11 were placed on deferred adjudication and 13 were reduced or dismissed. 4 were motions granted to revoke probation or parole.

Out of the 45 cases, only 37% were actually “convicted” and Bradley proclaims to be “tough on crime” when it comes to protecting our children?

Political opportunist?

What we have seen of late is a pattern of Bradley supporters (Precinct Chair Gwen Hodges and lobbyist Kerry Russell) resorting to false statements in an attempt to bolster their candidate. Problem is, like the band on the Titanic, they refuse to acknowledge not only the gaping hole in the side of the ship but also the water gushing in that will ultimately sink the vessel. Sadly, even the rats knew when it was time to jump ship. These poor souls are still playing away on their fiddles as did the band on the Titanic. Some folks you just can’t reach, even when the ship is sinking.

       
John Martin Bradley                        John Davis Bradley

The Jefferson County District Attorney has been asked to investigate State Board of Education member John David Bradley, brother of Wilco DA John Martin Bradley after two fundraisers for his reelection campaign featured David Barton, who also publishes instructional materials used in Texas public schools.

Apparently the actions of David Barton on Bradley’s behalf violated a provision of the Education Code that says “a person engaged in manufacturing, shipping, selling or advertising instructional materials commits an offense if the person makes or authorizes a political contribution to or takes part in, directly or indirectly, the campaign of any person seeking election to or serving on the board.”

This is another example of Bradley’s willingness to flaunt the law. It was reported In 2002, he was indicted for violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. In that case, it was reported that Bradley took a plea deal where the charge was dismissed after he took a course on the Texas Open Meetings Act.

In 2008, it was reported that Cynthia Thornton, a former board member — and a fellow Republican — said Bradley bullied and threatened her, which caused her husband to ask then-Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley to tell Bradley to back off. He also asked that TEA begin posting armed security at state board meetings, which TEA did.

Thornton said her physical encounter with Bradley was sudden and unpleasant.

“As I went to the restroom and walked around his chair, he actually grabbed me and told me to keep my G.D. mouth shut,”. “Well, I was so shocked — I should have turned around and slapped him and knocked him out of his chair and let him fall down on the floor right beneath the table the press had. This was during a meeting! I just kept going. I just ignored it, shook my arm loose and kept going.”

Thornton says she had another particularly unpleasant encounter with Bradley a year later. After she made an indirect but public reference to Bradley having been indicted in 2002 for possibly violating the Texas law on open meetings, Bradley confronted her in the state board’s break room during a meeting.

As she was getting some ice, Bradley said, “You better get yourself a good lawyer, because I don’t like you lying about me being a felon. You better watch what you say, because I’ve got a good lawyer and you better get you a good one.”

All of this coming from the same guy who said "If you sit on the mental health commission, do you have to be retarded?"

It looks like bully tactics and skirting the law are a family affair. We have reports that a criminal complaint has been filed with the Travis County DA’s office against DA John Martin: Bradley. We are obtaining details and will report as soon as we have confirmation.

She also pointed out Birkman is the architect of "Birkmancare", the government subsidized health care clinic paid for by our tax dollars.

According to many, Birkman sounded more like a RINO, not the true “conservative” as she hypes herself to be. When it was Birkman’s turn to speak, she could only defend the runaway spending by saying “the debt must not be too bad since the county has a AAA bond rating”.

The AAA rating only means we have good credit. If we max out our personal credit cards, go apply for more credit cards, pay them on time, max them out, go apply for more but in the process make the minimum payments on time, of course our credit will be good. That doesn’t mean we aren’t up to our eyeballs in debt. Birkman has obviously taken a course from the “John Bradley school of deception”. Perhaps that explains her public support of Bradley. Or her perhaps  her "other" allegiances?

John Bradley commented: “Spoke at the WC Republican Convention at Taylor High School this morning. Good reception for my message that public safety is a core Republican value and that party unity matters. Reminded attendees that we have one of the lowest crime rate in Texas for a county of our size.”

Bradley forgets to mention the only real “good reception” he received was from Gwen Hodges and Lisa Birkman who both hooted in approval as he spoke. When he concluded, according to a few who emailed, Hodges stood up and clapped like a grade school girl at a Justin Beiber concert. According to many, she was the only person in the room to stand and applaud, the remaining members gave the conciliatory “golf clap”. Speculation is Gwen Hodges will have an opponent in the election and according to many in Berry Creek, her days as Pct chair are numbered. Click here to read more.

His statement of “public safety is a core Republican value” is also a bit confusing. Bradley rails on public safety employees, saying they are a bunch of "union members", even after he sought their endorsement. Perhaps the sour grapes are more than Bradley can bear since he only received one law enforcement endorsement and Duty received six.

Another example of Bradley’s alternate reality.

We will have more on the convention as it becomes available.