Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a County Judge. (08/31/06)
08/31/2006
The judge permitted the local county attorney to generate and provide court referral forms to defendants in plea bargain cases, directing them to take domestic violence and other classes, without prior court review or approval. The judge also permitted the local county attorney to generate and signed Notices of Setting with the court's caption directing defendants to appear for court hearings. Further, the judge failed to comply with the law and failed to maintain professional competence in the law when he failed to set a defendant's case for trial after she entered a plea of "not guilty;" failed to review and approve the terms of the defendant's plea bargain agreement with the local county attorney; and improperly ordered the defendant to pay court costs upon dismissal of her case. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a County Judge. (08/31/06).
