Private Reprimand and Order of Additional Education of a District Court Judge. (12/19/13).
12/19/2013
The judge failed to comply with the law and failed to maintain professional competence in the law when, without proper notice or an opportunity to be heard, she held a litigant in contempt of court and had her incarcerated over the weekend for failing to comply with temporary orders. Based on her testimony before the Commission, it appeared the judge failed to appreciate the distinction between criminal versus civil contempt, direct versus constructive contempt, and the proper procedures to follow in each type of case before subjecting a litigant to incarceration. [Violation of Canons 2A, 3B(2) and 3B(8) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Reprimand and Order of Additional Education of a District Court Judge. (12/19/13).
