North Texas State Judge Convicted of Bribery

McKINNEY, Texas – A North Texas jury has found a state district judge guilty of accepting a bribe that boosted her 2008 election bid in exchange for future favorable rulings in her court.

The Collin County jury in McKinney found state District Judge Suzanne Wooten guilty Tuesday of six bribery counts and one each of money laundering, record tampering and engaging in organized criminal activity. The Dallas Morning News reports the penalty phase is scheduled to begin Monday. She could receive punishment ranging from probation to life imprisonment.

Prosecutors alleged the judge's campaign consultant took six payments totaling $150,000 from a couple locked in a bitter child custody battle with the husband's ex-wife.

Wooten was suspended with pay after her indictment last year.