Texas judge fired after dismissing protest over discolored water controversy
Municipal Judge Shellena Bivens was removed by Trinidad City Council a week after she threw out a disorderly-conduct charge against a protester who challenged the police arrest of resident Jennifer Combs over a Facebook post about discolored water.
After resident Jennifer Combs used Facebook to collect reports of discolored water in Trinidad, Texas, police arrested her on a felony false-alarm count, though a Henderson County grand jury chose not to indict. A second arrest involved citizen journalist Winston Noles, who protested outside City Hall with a sign criticizing the police; Municipal Judge Shellena Bivens dismissed the disorderly-conduct charge, stating the evidence was insufficient.
The Trinidad City Council then voted 3-1 to terminate Bivens, effectively ending her 16-year judicial career without a stated reason. State probes by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality uncovered multiple water-quality violations, including excess iron and color units. The Texas Rangers have launched an investigation into the city's handling of the matter, while several city officials, including the city manager and clerk, resigned amid the turmoil.
Why it matters
The case highlights how local government actions can suppress public criticism and raise concerns about water safety and law-enforcement overreach.
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