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COLUMBUS — The State Commission on Judicial Conduct on July 2 voted to suspend Colorado County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Donald Clark with pay following his indictment on three misdemeanor charges related to his official duties.
Under Texas law, the commission may suspend a judge with or without pay if the judge is indicted for a felony or charged with a misdemeanor involving the judge’s official duties.
Clark was indicted June 18 on one count each of official oppression, false report to a peace officer and making a false report to induce an emergency response. He surrendered to authorities on June 23.
The indictments allege Clark knowingly made a false 911 report on Feb. 18 that resulted in the arrest of Columbus resident Bobby Lee Whisnant Jr.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Texas Rangers after the Columbus Police Department identified “discrepancies” between Clark’s statement and police evidence.
Commission Interim Chair Judge Ken Wise signed Clark’s suspension order that cited the three indictments on July 2. Seven of the 13 commissioners must vote to suspend a judge. The Commission did not return the Citizen’s request for more information about the vote.
“Such suspension (will) remain in effect until the charges set forth in the indictments are dismissed, Judge Clark is acquitted of all charges in the Indictments, or upon further order(s) of the Commission,” the order reads.
According to Colorado County records, Clark is receiving a $54,350 salary for 2026.
Texas law allows the county judge to appoint a temporary justice of the peace when an elected judge is unable to perform official duties. The appointee must have at least four years of judicial experience and meet other statutory qualifications.
Additionally, the Department of Public Safety, who oversees the Texas Rangers, requested a ruling from the Office of the Attorney General’s Office to withhold further information in response to the Citizen’s open records request. DPS said any released evidence would “interfere with the investigation and potential prosecution of this case.”
