Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai speaks to reporters at the Texas Tribune Festival last year in Austin. Credit: Michael Karlis

A Bexar County employee last year filed a federal workplace discrimination complaint against County Judge Peter Sakai, alleging he publicly berated her and retaliated against her over a disagreement, documents show.

Bexar County Precinct 4 Constable Kathryn Brown, the first Black woman to hold that position, filed a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint against Sakai on April 25, 2025, alleging she and other women of color employed by the county face a hostile workplace.

Brown’s complaint stems from a purported encounter with the judge four days prior to her filing. She alleges in the document that Sakai showed up at Precinct 4’s satellite office in Converse, yelling and acting aggressively toward her. One witness cited in the complaint said he believed the judge was ready to physically strike Brown.

Sakai, who’s locked in a tight Democratic primary battle against former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, told the Current that he apologized to Brown following the incident and wants to reset the relationship.

“For the record, I used no profanities or personal insults; however, I fully admit to losing my patience and I take full responsibility for my behavior,” Sakai said.

Nirenberg’s campaign declined comment.

The EEOC didn’t immediately respond to the Current’s request to clarify whether officials had begun looking into Brown’s complaint.

In the document, Brown asserts that Sakai publicly demeaned her and damaged her credibility with her staff.

“These actions were taken place at my office, in front of members of the public and my subordinates, directly undermining my authority and creating a hostile and degrading work environment,” she wrote in her complaint. “I am bringing this forward not just for myself, but in the interest of fairness, equity, and the integrity of the workplace we are all sworn to serve.”

In the document, Brown also argued that Sakai and his office participated in retaliatory behavior following the initial incident.

“What is particularly troubling is that I am not alone in experiencing this treatment,” Brown added. “Other elected officials [and] women of color … in this workplace have also endured similar patterns of hostility, marginalization, and public disrespect. Which points to a broader, systemic issue that reflects bias and discrimination based not only on gender but also on race. It is unacceptable, and it demands accountability.

The complaint

The EEOC filing maintains that Sakai burst into Bexar County’s Precinct 4’s satellite office on April 21 of last year, yelling and demanding a meeting with Brown. Cedric Wade, Brown’s assistant chief, escorted Sakai to a conference room to meet with her, according to allegations in the document.

“Judge Sakai started very angrily and loudly yelling at her and he was so upset and he got up from the table in a very aggressive fashion as if to hit her, still yelling at her and pointing his right pointer finger and hand in her face, violently yelling at her,” Wade wrote in a witness statement included in the complaint.

In another statement accompanying the federal filing, Precinct 4 County Commissioner Calvert alleged that Sakai’s outburst stemmed from ongoing disagreements with Brown over security and staffing at the new Precinct 4 office.

“There had been an unnecessary tug-of-war over whether to provide additional security for the new Precinct 4 satellite office,” Calvert wrote. “Previously, Precinct 4 did not have a satellite office but merely a space that housed the Justice of the Peace and the Constables’ offices. The previous building was 11,000 square feet and the new building is 32,000 square feet — triple the size.”

Calvert told the Current in a phone call that he wasn’t present in the room when Sakai met with Brown. However, he said he the shouting was loud enough that it bled through the wall.

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” Calvert added.

Ramon Chapa Jr., who worked as Calvert’s community engagement director at the time of Brown’s complaint, also provided a witness statement. He alleged Sakai’s appearance at the satellite office suggested the judge actively sought a confrontation with the constable.

“For [Sakai] to come all the way from his downtown office, with his entire staff, and armed executive protection team, he was looking for a fight,” Chapa wrote.

In his statement to the Current, Sakai said he lost his temper because Brown was refusing to supply bailiffs and additional security at the Precinct 4 office, which he said was concerning as as acts of political violence continued to rise across the nation.

“We clearly hold very different views towards fulfilling our responsibilities; however, that does not excuse my reaction,” Sakai said. “It was unprofessional. I take responsibility and would welcome an opportunity to reset the relationship.”

What’s next

Brown’s complaint surfaces as Sakai enters the home stretch for a primary campaign likely to determine the overall winner of the election. In blue Bexar, it’s unlikely cultural conservative Patrick Von Dohlen, the lone Republican candidate for the county’s top elected position, will gain traction at the polls in November.

The the EEOC filing isn’t the only potential setback Sakai has faced as the clock ticks down on the primary.

Early this month, the judge took heat for flip-flopping on his support of Project Marvel, the massive downtown sports-and-entertainment complex that will include a taxpayer-funded Spurs arena.

Days later, reports surfaced that Sakai fired his former communications director, Jim Lefko, over allegations the spokesman sent inappropriate texts to the publisher of the San Antonio Observer. Lefko has said the messages were “misconstrued.”

Then, roughly a week ago, the Texas Attorney General’s Election Integrity Division served a search warrant to JoAnn Ramon, a political consultant who did work for Sakai’s campaign. Ramon has faced previous inquiries from the AG’s office in which she denied wrongdoing. She’s never been charged in those cases.

Early voting in the Democratic primary runs now through Friday, Feb. 27. The Bexar County Elections Department’s website offers information on polling locations and hours of operation.

Polls will reopen on Election Day, March 3.

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Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...