Top attorney resigns from Tarrant County DA’s office
David Harris has resigned as the civil division chief for the Tarrant County district attorney’s office, a week after he was placed on paid administrative leave while a personnel matter was investigated.
Russell Friemel has been appointed interim civil division chief, District Attorney Sharen Wilson said in a news release Friday.
Harris, 57, is a former Southlake City Council member who returned to Tarrant County government after 17 years with the state attorney general’s office.
Wilson has declined to provide details on the personnel matter involving Harris, one of several hires she made when she took office in January.
The Star-Telegram filed an open-records request last week to try to obtain information about any complaints against Harris.
Friemel has worked as a civil assistant district attorney since 1996 and previously worked as assistant general counsel for the State Bar of Texas, according to a news release. He is a military veteran with 30 years’ combined active-duty and reserve service, and his assignments include working as a judge advocate for the Air Force and Air Force Reserve.
In a November news release naming Harris to her management team, Wilson said he would act as general counsel for Tarrant County elected officials and appointed administrators, providing legal advice on various topics.
“David has been a top attorney serving Texans as assistant attorney general under Greg Abbott for 17 years,” Wilson said. “Harris’ legal skills were honed in the public and private sector. David is well-rounded, believes in public service and understands we answer to the taxpayers. He is a hard worker who gets results. That is exactly what I was looking for to lead our civil division.”
The news release also included this quote from Abbott, now the governor: “David’s intelligence and effectiveness has been valuable to me and the citizens of Texas. Judge Wilson has made an excellent choice for her leadership team and I wish her and David the very best in 2015 and beyond.”
This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.
This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Top attorney resigns from Tarrant County DA’s office."