Judge Layne Walker criticizes attorney for false allegations

BEAUMONT - A Judge criticized an attorney during a hearing in his courtroom and accused her of making false allegations about his handling of a criminal case.The Austin attorney wanted to represent 25 year old Kelly Renea Harris.Harris is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.A grand jury indicted Harris on charges of stabbing someone in January outside a Beaumont nightclub.The attorney is with the non-profit organization Texas Fair Defense Project.The group is based in Austin and according to its website tries to improve the fairness of Texas courts.It accused Jefferson County Criminal District Judge Layne Walker of revoking Harris' bond because she asked for a court appointed attorney.According to the evidence presented today in court, that's not true.Judge Walker said today in court, He revoked Harris' bond because she was high on cocaine and Xanax not because she asked for a court appointed attorney.The judge asked Susanne Pragel, why her organization was getting involved?Pragel said because Harris was jailed illegally and not treated fairly.Walker said Harris was jailed for admitting she was high on drugs not for any other reason. She tested positive for cocaine and Xanax.Walker also asked Pragel why she would compromise her integrity without making a phone call to find the truth.Pragel said she wanted to represent a woman who was treated un-fairly.KFDM spoke with prosecutors, defense attorneys and Harris' court appointed attorney who say Judge Walker did the right thing.Harris bonded out of jail.If convicted of the second degree felony, she could face two to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.