Hays County District Clerk Avrey Anderson was not held in contempt by Judge Tanner Neidhardt of the 483d Hays County District Court who said instead that he was “incapable,” on Tuesday. The proceedings also alleged that Anderson had fallen asleep during training that covered the software used to send out jury summons. This does not have a direct impact on a separate petition that has been filed to remove Anderson from office.
Anderson was elected to a four-year term in 2022 as a 19-year-old who recently graduated from Dripping Springs High School. The Hays County website states that his “office is responsible for providing records of the District Courts’ proceedings, implementing District Court decisions, and administratively supporting the respective courts and judges.” These duties include summoning jurors to allow the courts to hold trials.
Anderson was brought before the court in January after there were issues of not having enough jurors to hold trials. After giving an explanation in District Court on Jan. 9 as to why that occurred, Anderson was ordered to appear in court again on Feb. 6 to show cause as to why he should not be held in contempt for initially misleading the court, according to the Show Cause Order. Judge Neidhardt came to the conclusion that Avrey had not intentionally misled the court, but rather was not capable of carrying out his elected duties.
