Spangler told reporters that because the shooting was at night and in the dark, there was little information available to police about the gunman, and it was unclear how many suspects might be involved. Kocurek’s home has a security gate that cuts across the driveway, according to the American-Statesman. KXAN reports Kocurek suffered injuries to the areas around her upper body, shoulder, and face.
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The local legal community is rattled after the shooting of State District Judge Julie Kocurek Friday night. Nonetheless, the appraisal district opposed the lawsuit and agreed with the challenges that the judge ruled on Friday, said Debbie Cartwright, a lawyer for the appraisal district.
A Texas state judge was shot and wounded in the driveway of her home in Austin late Friday as witnesses looked on, police said. A neighbor told the Austin American-Statesman about hearing four “pops”.
Officer Mark Spangler, the head of the Austin Police Department robbery-homicide division said his division and the patrol division is investigating.
As a result of those provisions, the city’s lawsuit said, a few commercial and vacant land properties are valued based on a median appraisal, lower than what they would sell for, while many residential properties are assessed based on market value and end up paying an unfairly larger share of taxes.
In this March 28, 2014 photo, Judge Julie Kocurek presides over her court in Austin.
Authorities haven’t indicated if the shooting was related to any of her cases, or simply a random act of violence, but until a year ago, Kocurek was the administrative judge presiding over all criminal cases in the county, as the Statesman notes. George W. Bush. She’s been presiding felony judge in Travis County, which includes Austin, since 1999.
Koureck was also recently overseeing cases related to a man convicted of killing one woman and charged in the death of another, as well as one involving a mother who kidnapped her daughter.
“My first obligation is to alert the other judges so they could be safe and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families and loved ones…” At this time, they aren’t saying whether the shooting is connected to Kocurek’s work as a judge. She eventually recused herself from the case.
Livingston said safety was at the top of her mind when she heard Kocurek was injured. “We wish her a speedy recovery”, the Texas Democratic Party tweeted Saturday.
Mark Norwood is set to go on trial for the 1988 murder of Debra Baker this month.
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The judge granted a similar motion for the Texas Association of Realtors, Lowe’s home improvement centers and the Driskill Hotel.
