On June 28, 2013, Administrative Judge John Orvard of the First Judicial Region of Texas appointed Dallas County District Judge Mike Snipes as the visiting judge in the capital murder cases against husband and wife, Eric and Kim Williams.
Eric and Kim Williams were indicted on June 27, 2013, for the capital murders of Kaufman County District Attorney Michael McLelland and his wife Cynthia at their Forney, Texas, home on Easter weekend. The couple was also indicted for the murder of Assistant Kaufman County District Attorney Mark Hasse on January 31, 2013, while he walked the short distance from the Kaufman Annex building parking lot to the Kaufman County Courthouse. Eric Williams is also facing a charge of making a terroristic threat.
Eric Williams will be represented by public defender Matthew Seymour from the Regional Public Defender's Office for capital cases. Kim Williams will be represented by Dallas criminal defense attorney Paul Johnson. Both Williamses are currently jailed at the Kaufman County Jail.
Judge Snipes will visit the Kaufman County Courthouse tomorrow to view the possible venues where the trial may be held. A future hearing, which will include the defense and prosecution teams, will determine the final venue. Before DA Michael McLelland’s death, McLelland vowed to return those responsible for the murder of Mark Hasse to Kaufman County to be tried by the people of Kaufman County.