Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (10/09/07).

10/09/2007

The judge engaged in improper ex parte communications and improperly delegated his role as fact-finder by approaching a private accountant to act as an "expert witness" in determining whether the plaintiff had proven his case. Although the judge obtained the consent of the parties before involving the accountant, the judge did not provide the parties with the opportunity to review or challenge the accountant's findings in court. [Violation of Canons 2A, 3B(2), and 6C(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (10/09/07).