89th District Judge Barnard plans to retire

Eighty-ninth District Judge Charles Barnard has decided not to seek reelection and plans to retire next year when he finishes his second full term.

Barnard will have served approximately nine years and seven months on the bench in 89th District Court by then, according to information provided by the judge.

"I've really enjoyed my time on the bench," he said in an interview Thursday in his office.

Barnard and other Wichita County judges worked through the difficult conditions of the pandemic, making the switch to Zoom for proceedings.

"A lot of people said the judiciary shut down, but I didn't get that memo," he said.

Barnard plans to continue trying cases as a visiting judge after his retirement, he said.

He was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott on March 23, 2015, to finish serving the unexpired term of late 89th District Judge Mark Price, who passed away Feb. 4, 2015.

Barnard was sworn in April 28, 2015, and he was elected to his first full four-year term Nov. 8, 2016. He was reelected to a second full term on Nov. 3, 2020.

Barnard has presided over a range of criminal and civil cases with still more before him before a successor steps in after General Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024.

Wichita County First Assistant District Attorney Dobie Kosub said he had a good conversation with Barnard on Friday about the judge's retirement plans.

“I sincerely respect his dedication to service on the bench, and his deep commitment to protecting child victims inWichita County," Kosub said in a media release Saturday.

Kosub has a big announcement coming Wednesday, but on Saturday, he wanted to focus on his "respect for Judge Barnard and honor his distinguished judicial service to our community," Kosub said in the media release.

Kosub plans to officially announce his campaign for 89th District judge 10 a.m. Wednesday at The Forum Wichita Falls.

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: 89th District Judge Charles Barnard plans to retire