Judge Donald Puckett has agreed to resign from his post as the Angelina County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2, following his arrest for abuse of official capacity.
The resignation agreement allows Puckett to avoid disciplinary action, but he is forever banned from judicial service in the state of Texas.
Background
On July 24, 2025, Puckett reportedly required an employee to take a mandatory Texas Justice Court Training Center course in his place and complete a certification falsely stating that he had taken the course himself, according to an affidavit cited by KLTV.
On January 7, 2026, a complaint was filed with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC), alleging Puckett’s “misuse of court personnel.” The SCJC is a state agency tasked with investigating and disciplining judges over allegations of this kind.
Puckett submitted a letter of resignation on August 7, 2026, citing his wife’s health and his need to care for her.
Following an investigation into the mandatory training incident, the Texas Rangers arrested Puckett on August 14 and booked him into the Angelina County Jail. Puckett then pleaded no contest and paid a $2,290 fine to secure his release.
The Angelina County commissioners accepted Puckett’s resignation on August 25, and Judge Jeffrey Smith was appointed to replace him.
The Agreement
On September 24, Puckett signed an agreement with the SCJC, officially and formally resigning his judicial duties. This agreement resolved the complaint in lieu of disciplinary action by the commission.
Both parties desired to resolve the matter without the time and expense of further disciplinary proceedings. As part of the agreement, the SCJC committed to pursuing no further disciplinary action against Puckett.
The agreement also barred Puckett from any future judicial service.
“IT IS FURTHER AGREED that, upon the Commission’s approval of this Agreement, Judge Puckett shall be forever disqualified from judicial service in the State of Texas, including: (a) sitting or serving as a judge, (b) standing for election or appointment to a judicial office, and/or (c) performing or exercising any judicial duties or functions of a judicial officer, including the performance of wedding ceremonies,” reads the agreement.
Ken Wise, interim chair for the SCJC, signed the agreement to make it official on October 7.
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