Hays County District Clerk Avrey Anderson, resigned from his office on Friday, July 5 following pressure to step down or face removal from office.
Anderson growing criticism a petition to remove him from the office for an alleged failure in his leadership to effectively manage the office of District Clerk for Hays County government.
The District Clerk’s Office is led by the District Clerk which is an elected position.
The district clerk is responsible for providing records of the District Courts’ proceedings, implementing District Court decisions, and administratively supporting the respective courts and judges.
Anderson, who was elected in by Hays County voters in 2022, defeated incumbent Beverly Crumley, who served in that position for 12 years. Anderson graduated from Dripping Springs High School in 2021.
In 2023, Austin attorney Chloe Love, filed a petition to the Hays County Court to remove him from office for incompetence, citing failures to deliver jury summons, subpoenas and timely filed grand jury indictments.
In June of this year, visiting Travis County Judge Amy Clark Meachum presided over a hearing to decide on a motion to suspend Anderson, without pay, on what she called, “very serious allegations.” A suspension would be followed by a formal jury trial scheduled at the end of October.
Meachum did not immediately render a decision after the hearing and Anderson resigned before she could do so.
In a letter of resignation to Hays County district judges, Anderson wrote, “I do not believe it is good for justice and the courts for me to continue in my role currently. Perhaps one day I will be able to get back into the government sector but for now I believe it is best for the people of Hays County to have someone who hopefully attracts less negative attention to themselves.”
Anderson admitted making mistakes while in office, but added, “I do not believe leaving will prevent these mistakes from occurring. Hopefully someone older than me will be given the benefit of the doubt. Somehow, I feel as though the focus of error and mistake has been on my age alone and not on the fact that our office has served the courts similarly to how clerks in other counties serve their courts.'
His resignation was effective July 5, 2024. As of press time, the Court has not appointed an interim district clerk, though the district judges are expected to do so. County officials declined to comment further on Anderson’s resignation.
