Texas Judge Wins Ballot Battle as Rival Disqualified Over Alleged Extortion & Fraudulent Signatures

A contentious legal battle in Harris County, Texas, has culminated in a Democratic candidate being removed from the ballot in the race for the 234th Civil District Court judge seat. Kimberly McTorry, a former judge and prosecutor, was barred from appearing on the March 3 primary ballot following allegations of attempted coercion and irregularities with her candidate petition.

Allegations of Coercion and Extortion

The dispute centers around claims made by incumbent Judge Lauren Reeder, who is seeking a third term. Reeder alleged that McTorry threatened to publicly reveal a decade-old extramarital affair if Reeder did not withdraw from the race. According to Reeder’s testimony, McTorry intended to “extort” her by threatening to divulge personal information to her family. McTorry allegedly coordinated with a Houston Democratic activist to further these threats through social media posts.

McTorry denied the allegations, claiming she was attempting to warn Reeder, not threaten her. She testified that she believed Reeder had indirectly offered her a financial incentive to run for a different judgeship, a claim disputed by witnesses. She also alleged that someone connected to Reeder’s campaign attempted to obtain her personnel file from the District Attorney’s Office to use against her.

Judge Christi Kennedy, a senior judge, ruled in favor of Reeder, stating that she found McTorry’s testimony “not credible,” particularly regarding the timing of a social media post that appeared shortly after McTorry’s alleged threat. Kennedy’s order, issued late Thursday evening, declared that “this conduct renders McTorry administratively ineligible to be certified as a candidate for judicial office.”

Challenges to Petition Signatures

Beyond the allegations of coercion, McTorry’s candidacy was also challenged based on the validity of signatures on her candidate petition. A review of the 52-page petition revealed numerous issues, including signatures lacking Voter Unique Identification (VUID) numbers, addresses not matching voter registration records, signatures from suspended voters, and discrepancies between signatures and known voter records. Forensic investigator Todd Welch testified that several signatures appeared to be forged.

Despite these challenges, McTorry initially filed a counterclaim alleging that Reeder had attempted to bribe her into withdrawing from the race, offering a $50,000 donation to support a different judicial bid. However, this claim was refuted by attorney Chauntelle Wood White, who testified that no such offer was made. White also disputed McTorry’s account of a December 4 meeting, stating that the events described by McTorry did not occur.

Reactions and Aftermath

The ruling has sparked debate within the Harris County legal community. Jolanda Jones, a Houston-based criminal defense attorney and Texas State Representative, expressed concerns on Instagram that Black attorneys were being unfairly targeted and removed from judicial races.

McTorry initially stated she “strongly” disagreed with the ruling but ultimately announced on January 16 that she would not challenge the order. “I spoke my truth under oath, and I stand by my testimony,” she said in a statement. “The message at issue was never intended as a threat. It was a warning — shared in good faith.”

Judge Reeder declined to comment on the ruling. Her attorney, Lloyd Kelley, described the decision as “drawing the line that you cannot campaign for a position on the ballot as a judge if you engage in what is basically extortion.”

The outcome leaves Reeder as the sole Democratic candidate for the 234th Civil District Court seat, unless another candidate emerges before the primary election. A trial had been scheduled for March 2, the day before the primary, but McTorry’s decision not to appeal effectively nullifies that proceeding.

Both Reeder and McTorry previously served as prosecutors at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, adding a layer of personal history to the contentious race. McTorry’s background also includes a prior role as an associate criminal judge in Harris County from 2023 to 2025.