TYLER, Texas (KETK) - Smith County Commissioners considered deducting the time Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips spent in jail from her salary on Tuesday.

According to the county, Phillips makes nearly $96,000 a year. Commissioners took no action on Tuesday, so Phillips pay will not be deducted. Instead they took a vote asking the Texas State Legislature for clarification.

In a public comment at the commissioner's court on Tuesday, Phillips asked "why would you start a new precedent with my case?"

Phillips, was found guilty last year for interfering with public duties after a 2023 traffic stop involving her son.

"There's competing legislation there," Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said. "Her offense did not come to a level of us removing her from office. So we are asking them clear i

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