| Action |
Date Issued |
Summary |
| Private Admonition of a County Court at Law Judge (09/19/00) |
09/19/2000 |
The judge confiscated a defendant's jewelry and retained possession of it to insure the defendant returned with an attorney. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Admonition of a County Court at Law Judge (09/19/00) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (09/19/00) |
09/19/2000 |
The judge exceeded his legal authority by involving himself in a private legal matter not pending in his court, and lent the prestige of his office to advance the interest of another. [Violation of Canons 2A and 2B of the Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (09/19/00) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (09/19/00) |
|
The judge acted without legal authority when he granted deferred adjudication without requiring a traffic defendant to enter a plea, then ordered the defendant to pay a fine. When the defendant did not pay the fine, the judge issued a warrant and failed to allow a trial for the charge of failure to appear. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution and Canon 2A of the Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (09/19/00) |
| Private Admonition of a District Court Judge (09/19/00) |
09/19/2000 |
The judge denied the attorneys in a civil matter the right to be heard because he responded orally to a jury's question concerning the court's charge without the attorneys' knowledge or presence. [Violation of Rule 286, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Canon 3B(8) of the Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a District Court Judge (09/19/00) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (10/28/00) |
|
When the judge refused to grant a litigant a default judgment for unpaid rent, the judge erroneously relied on legal authority that was no longer in effect at the time of trial. As a result, the judge deprived a litigant of a legal remedy made available by the Texas Legislature to effectively pursue claims for unpaid rent in conjunction with possession of the premises. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Code of Judicial Conduct and Texas Property Code §24.0051.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (10/28/00) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (10/28/00) |
10/28/2000 |
The judge acted imprudently when following a citizen to a parking lot and then making the comment that the judge would remember how the citizen drove that morning in the event she appeared in the judge's court. Such a statement indicated the judge would be unable or unwilling to remain impartial and unbiased in a case in his court involving the citizen. [Violation of Canon 4A(1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (10/28/00) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (11/04/00) |
11/04/2000 |
The judge lacked adequate administrative and record-keeping procedures for keeping track of correspondence, motions and other court records received from litigants and their attorneys. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (11/04/00) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (12/19/00) |
12/19/2000 |
The judge improperly deprived a citizen of his right to seek legal redress for a claim of damages through the courts. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Rules 145 and 572 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (12/19/00) |
| Private Warning of a County Court at Law Judge (12/19/00) |
12/19/2000 |
The judge acted imprudently when he consumed alcoholic beverages at a public event and placed himself in a position where it appeared to law enforcement officers and others that he was publicly intoxicated. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Warning of a County Court at Law Judge (12/19/00) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (12/19/00) |
12/19/2000 |
The judge rendered a default judgment against a defendant who had never been served with citation. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution and Canons 2A and 3B(8) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (12/19/00) |
| Private Reprimand of a Justice of the Peace (12/19/00) |
12/19/2000 |
The judge engaged in the pursuit of her daughter-in-law and her grandchildren at a high rate of speed after the daughter-in-law took the children from the judge's home. The judge initiated a police chase that increased the danger to which her grandchildren were exposed. The judge's actions created the impression that she was improperly engaging in law enforcement activities. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Reprimand of a Justice of the Peace (12/19/00) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (01/05/01) |
01/05/2001 |
The judge charged and collected a filing fee for a peace bond application. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (01/05/01) |
| Private Warning of a Justice of the Peace (01/05/01) |
05/01/2001 |
The judge made threatening remarks toward a litigant while at the county sheriff's department. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution and Canons 2A and 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Justice of the Peace (01/05/01) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a County Judge (03/12/01) |
03/12/2001 |
The judge failed to conduct jury trials in criminal matters, which indicated that the judge lacked training and a basic understanding of how to conduct jury trials in criminal cases. [Violation of Canon 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a County Judge (03/12/01) |
| The judge failed to conduct jury trials in criminal matters, which indicated that the judge lacked training and a basic understanding of how to conduct jury trials in criminal cases. [Violation of Canon 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a County Judge (03/12/01) |
03/22/2001 |
The judge acted without patience, dignity, or courtesy when the judge verbally attacked and humiliated a defendant. [Violation of Canon 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (03/22/01) |
| Private Admonition of a District Court Judge (04/24/01) |
04/24/2001 |
The judge participated in an improper ex parte communication with an attorney and a witness during a civil jury trial. [Violation of Canon 3B(8) and Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Admonition of a District Court Judge (04/24/01) |
| Private Warning of a District Court Judge (04/24/01) |
04/24/2001 |
The judge appeared in his judicial robe in an advertisement for a community college. His appearance was inconsistent with the proper performance of his duties and cast discredit upon the judiciary. [Violation of Canon 2B of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Warning of a District Court Judge (04/24/01) |
| Private Warning of a District Court Judge (05/02/01) |
05/01/2001 |
The judge magistrated family members and refused to magistrate other inmates being held at the same time. [Violation of Canons 2B and 3B(5) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a County Judge (05/01/01) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a County Judge (05/01/01) |
05/01/2001 |
The judge magistrated family members and refused to magistrate other inmates being held at the same time. [Violation of Canons 2B and 3B(5) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a County Judge (05/01/01) |
| Private Admonition of a District Court Judge (05/25/01) |
05/25/2001 |
The judge allowed a restaurant to use the prestige of his judicial office to advance its own commercial interest by posing in a photograph for that business without taking adequate precautions to ensure that his name and title would not be associated with the business and be published in the local newspaper. [Violation of Canon 2B of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a District Court Judge (05/25/01) |
| Private Admonition of a District Court Judge (05/25/01) |
05/25/2001 |
The judge failed to maintain control over a case and the litigants and exhibited bias and prejudice against a litigant. [Violation of Canon 3B(5) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a District Court Judge (05/25/01) |
| Private Reprimand of a Justice of the Peace (05/25/01) |
05/25/2001 |
The judge sponsored an "event" barbecue for law enforcement and used a sub-courthouse as the site for the event, which conveyed the impression that law enforcement officers were in a special position to influence the judge. [Violation of Canon 2B of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Reprimand of a Justice of the Peace (05/25/01) |
| Private Warning of a County Court at Law Judge (05/30/01) |
05/30/2001 |
The judge failed to be patient, dignified and courteous in his dealings with courthouse security personnel. Additionally, the judge went beyond his authority in threatening to hold security personnel (not in his courtroom) in direct contempt for interfering with his court. [Violation of Canon 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Warning of a County Court at Law Judge (05/30/01) |
| Private Order of Education of a County Judge (05/25/01) |
05/25/2001 |
The judge erred in holding a defendant in direct contempt for failure to comply with her order. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Education of a County Judge (05/25/01) |
| Private Admonition of a District Court Judge (06/01/01) |
06/01/2001 |
The judge's letter on behalf of a party in a civil matter constituted an improper use of the judge's judicial position in an effort to influence another judge's judicial position and obtain favorable treatment for the litigants. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a District Court Judge (06/01/01) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (04/24/01) |
04/24/2001 |
The judge did not comply with the relevant provisions of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Transportation Code in the handling of a criminal case. Furthermore, the filing of a criminal complaint is a public record, therefore refusing to provide a copy to any citizen, including the defendant, is a violation of the law. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (04/24/01) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (06/20/01) |
06/20/2001 |
The judge issued a Magistrate's Emergency Protective Order without the proper authority. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (06/20/01) |
| Private Warning of a Justice of the Peace (06/20/01) |
06/20/2001 |
The judge wrote a letter on behalf of a defendant and his family. The judge's actions in the matter were inconsistent with the proper performance of the judge's duties. [Violation of Canon 2B of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Warning of a Justice of the Peace (06/20/01) |
| Private Reprimand of a District Court Judge (06/21/01) |
06/21/2001 |
The judge allowed a difficult relationship with a former employee to improperly influence the judge's judgment and conduct. The judge's lack of judgment manifested itself in the unreasonable refusal to permit the former employee any access to information necessary for the preparation of an appeal. [Violation of Canon 2B of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Reprimand of a District Court Judge (06/21/01) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (06/29/01) |
06/29/2001 |
The judge issued an evidentiary search warrant without proper authority; set a civil action for trial prior to the defendant's answer date; conducted an independent investigation into the merits of a civil action pending in the judge's court based on information obtained through a third party source; failed to advise a criminal defendant of his constitutional rights to be represented by an attorney and to have a trial by jury; failed to obtain a written waiver of the defendant's right to a trial by jury; and charged a defendant accused of throwing eggs at a home with the wrong offense. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (06/29/01) |
| Private Warning of a Former Municipal Judge (08/20/01) |
08/20/2001 |
The judge was rude, undignified and discourteous toward court staff, which is inconsistent with the proper performance of the judge's duties. [Violation of Canon 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Warning of a Former Municipal Judge (08/20/01) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (08/20/01) |
08/20/2001 |
The judge entertained the ex parte requests of defendants' family members and authorized the local sheriff to release defendants on personal bond. In doing so, the judge failed to follow proper bail procedures. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B, and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (08/20/01) |
| Private Reprimand and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (08/20/01) |
08/20/2001 |
The judge allowed his name to appear as a supporter on various candidates' campaign literature. In addition, the judge told a newspaper reporter that he supported a specific candidate. Additionally, the judge was unfamiliar with the law relating to contempt procedures. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B, 3B(2) and 5(3) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Reprimand & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (08/20/01) |
| Private Warning of a County Judge (08/20/01) |
08/20/2001 |
The judge failed to obtain the mandatory judicial education hours for fiscal year 2000. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Rule 2a(2) of the Rules of Judicial Education.] Private Warning of a County Judge (08/20/01) |
| Private Warning of a Former Municipal Judge (08/20/01) |
08/20/2001 |
The judge rudely admonished a court clerk in open court and directed a profanity in Spanish toward the court clerk embarrassing her in open court. [Violation of Canon 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Warning of a Former Municipal Judge (08/20/01) |
