| Action |
Date Issued |
Summary |
| Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Former Justice of the Peace. (10/04/06) |
10/04/2006 |
The judge failed to timely execute the business of the court by allowing a defendant's traffic case to remaining pending for over fifteen months without disposition. Further, the judge's court records in the defendant's case demonstrated a lack of diligence in accurately recording what transpired in the case, including entry of court settings, appearances by the defendant and the prosecutor, pleas, waiver of jury trial, and final adjudication, if any. Additionally, in her responses to inquiries about the defendant's traffic case, the judge exhibited a lack of professional competence in the law regarding traffic cases filed in her court. [Violation of Article V, Section 1 "“a(6) A of the Texas Constitution and Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning & Order of Additional Education of a Former Justice of the Peace. (10/04/06) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (10/31/06). |
10/31/2006 |
The judge demonstrated a lack of professional competence in the law when, after sentencing a student for the offense of failure to attend school, he ordered successive "compliance hearings" over an eleven (11) month period for alleged "violations of probation" by the student. Further, the judge erred in requiring the parents to attend school with the defendant as a condition of probation. [Violation of Canon 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (10/31/06). |
| Private Admonition of a County Court at Law Judge. (10/31/06). |
10/31/2006 |
The judge made impatient and discourteous comments to a defendant, the defendant's attorney, and a prosecutor when they appeared in court regarding the defendant's probation revocation, and did so in a manner that did not reflect the appropriate temperament or demeanor expected of a judicial officer. [Violation of Canon 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a County Court at Law Judge. (10/31/06). |
| Private Admonition of a Municipal Judge. (12/06/06). |
12/06/2006 |
The judge wrote a letter to the public housing authority, stating that he was a judge and criticizing his neighbor's behavior. Shortly thereafter, the neighbor's rental assistance was terminated by the housing authority for his behavior. [Violation of Canon 2B of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a Municipal Judge. (12/06/06). |
| Private Reprimand of a Justice of the Peace. (12/06/06). |
12/06/2006 |
The judge presided over an eviction case in which his law partner represented the defendant. The judge knew or should have known that, because he and defense counsel were law partners, a conflict of interest existed that should have prevented him from presiding over the case and deciding in favor of his law partner's client. [Violation of Canon 3B(1) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Reprimand of a Justice of the Peace. (12/06/06). |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (12/15/06). |
12/15/2006 |
The judge signed a possession order in a child custody dispute, a matter that was outside the judge's jurisdiction. [Violation of Canon 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (12/15/06). |
| Private Warning of a Justice of the Peace. (12/15/06). |
12/15/2006 |
The judge personally endorsed an appeal bond refund check, which rightfully belonged to the judgment debtor, and turned the entire amount over to the judgment creditor. Furthermore, the judge personally assisted the judgment creditor in obtaining funds from the judgment debtor to satisfy the judgment without requiring the creditor to pursue any post-judgment collection remedies in court. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Justice of the Peace. (12/15/06). |
| Private Admonition and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (03/01/07) |
03/01/2007 |
The judge interceded in a dispute between two parties in a small claims suit and attempted to assist one of the parties collect on a debt. The judge's involvement on the party's behalf lent the prestige of judicial office to advance the party's interest and gave the appearance that the party was in a special position to influence the judge in the small claims action. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B, and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (03/01/07) |
| Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (03/23/07) |
03/23/2007 |
The judge failed to comply with the law and maintain professional competence in the law when she telephone the jail to set a bond for a defendant, who was then allowed to be released without first having to appear before a magistrate, as required by law. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (03/23/07) |
| Private Warning of a Justice of the Peace. (03/23/07) |
03/23/2007 |
The judge issued a peace bond without conducting a hearing and without otherwise following procedures set forth in the Code of Criminal Procedure based on complaints filed by an individual with whom he had a personal relationship. The judge failed to follow the law, failed to maintain professional competence in the law, allowed his relationship with the complainant to influence his judicial judgment, used his position to advance another's private interest, and permitted the complainant requesting the peace bond to convey the impression that she was in a special position to influence him. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Justice of the Peace. (03/23/07) |
| Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (03/23/07) |
03/23/2007 |
The judge presided over the magistration of a defendant who had been arrested based on a criminal complaint filed by the judge's son. The defendant had been charged with unlawful restraint of a child and injury to a child, the judge's grandson. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial.] Private Warning & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (03/23/07) |
| Private Admonition of a Justice of the Peace. (05/07/07) |
05/07/2007 |
The judge negligently filed a homestead exemption affidavit representing that his primary residence was outside the judicial precinct to which he was elected, when in fact he did reside in the precinct to which he was elected. When the mistake was brought to the judge's attention through a newspaper article, he took appropriate steps to correct the error. [Violation of Canon 2A of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a Justice of the Peace. (05/07/07) |
| Private Warning of a Justice of the Peace. (05/07/07) |
05/07/2007 |
With no complaint filed in her court, and without legal authority, the judge summoned her in-laws and another couple to her office to explain peace bond procedures and attempt to mediate a criminal dispute between them. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Justice of the Peace. (05/07/07) |
| Private Reprimand of a Former District Judge. (05/07/07) |
05/07/2007 |
During his campaign for re-election, the judge knowingly misrepresented that he was endorsed by a group of local judges, when he knew or should have known the judges had disclaimed such an endorsement. [Violation of Canon 5(1)(ii) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Reprimand of a Former District Judge. (05/07/07) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (06/07/07) |
06/07/2007 |
The judge found a traffic defendant guilty, assessed a fine against him, and suspended his driver's license based solely on telephone conversations with the defendant. [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. (06/07/07) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (06/14/07) |
06/14/2007 |
The judge refused to sign a defendant's appeal bond, which refusal appeared to have been the sole cause for the county court at law to dismiss the defendant's appeal. [Violation of Canon 2A of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct. Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (06/14/07) |
| Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (06/15/07) |
|
The judge attempted to mediate a dispute between two parties prior to criminal charges being filed in the case, issued a "cash only" bond that prevented one of the parties from being released from jail for 25 days, and dismissed a traffic ticket without a motion from the prosecutor and based on an improper ex parte communication with a family she knew from church. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (06/15/07) |
| Private Reprimand and Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Judge. (07/13/07) |
07/13/2007 |
Following magistration, the judge made a statement to a jailer regarding an arrestee that was overheard by a number of witnesses, which suggested to some members of the public that he was exhibiting a bias or prejudice against the arrestee on the basis of race. [Violation of Canon 3B(6) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Reprimand & Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Judge. (07/13/07) |
| Private Admonition of a County Court at Law Judge. (07/13/07) |
07/13/2007 |
In anger, following a contentious child custody hearing, the judge wrote a letter to a litigant's employer informing the employer that the litigant had behaved disrespectfully and unprofessionally in his court resulting in his finding the litigant in contempt. In the letter, the judge requested that the employer advise her staff to show proper respect when coming to court. [Violation of Canon 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a County Court at Law Judge. (07/13/07) |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (08/24/07). |
08/24/2007 |
The judge failed to obtain the mandatory judicial education hours during fiscal year 2006 and was ordered to come into compliance by a date certain. [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. (08/24/07). |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (08/24/07). |
08/24/2007 |
The judge failed to obtain the mandatory judicial education hours during fiscal year 2006 and was ordered to come into compliance by a date certain. [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. (08/24/07). |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (08/24/07). |
08/24/2007 |
The judge failed to obtain the mandatory judicial education hours during fiscal year 2006 and was ordered to come into compliance by a date certain. [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. (08/24/07). |
| Private Admonition of a Former Justice of the Peace. (08/24/07). |
08/24/2007 |
The judge failed to obtain the mandatory judicial education hours during fiscal year 2006. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a Former Justice of the Peace. (08/24/07). |
| Private Admonition of a Former Judge. (08/24/07). |
08/24/2007 |
Immediately following the trial of a high-profile criminal case, the judge exhibited a lack of patience, dignity and courtesy required of a judicial official when he intemperately addressed a news reporter and seized the camera equipment from a camera operator as they were attempting to report on the case. [Violation of Canon 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a Former Judge. (08/24/07). |
| Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Judge. (08/24/07.) |
08/24/2007 |
The judge dismissed a Class B misdemeanor charge against a defendant during the magistration process in the absence of a prosecutor or a motion to dismiss filed by the State. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Judge. (08/24/07.) |
