Private Reprimand and Order of Additional Education of a County Court at Law Judge (12/18/14)
12/18/2014
The judge failed to treat the County Clerk and her staff in a patient, dignified, and courteous manner. The judge exerted his judicial authority over the elected County Clerk and her staff resulting in the filing and prosecution of criminal charges against the County Clerk. Based on the record before the Commission, the evidence demonstrated the judge became personally affronted by the County Clerk's conduct toward him, and confused an offense to his sensibilities with obstruction to the administration of justice. The evidence demonstrate the judge's decision to charge the County Clerk with criminal contempt of court was not made in a good faith effort to safeguard the orderly proceedings of the court. The evidence before the Commission also supports the conclusion the judge demonstrated a lack of competence in the matter in which he performed his judicial duties by marking up and altering original judgments, orders, and exhibits, and interjecting himself in the prosecution of criminal proceedings and in plea negotiations. [Violation of Canons 2A, 3B(2) and 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct]. Private Reprimand and Order of Additional Education of a County Court at Law Judge. (12/18/14).
