Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (10-01-14)
10/01/2014
The judge routinely engaged in out-of-court communications with individuals regarding cases that were pending or impending in his court. The Commission concluded the judge's conduct in this regard constituted a willful and persistent violation of Canon 6C(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct. In addition, the judge failed to treat a litigant in a patient, dignified and courteous manner. The Commission further concluded the judge failed to follow the law and improperly used the prestige of his office when he requested, obtained, and disclosed to the Commission the litigant's criminal history and reports from local law enforcement agencies. There was no indication the judge obtained a waiver from the named individual in order to obtain this information, it appears the judge was able to obtain this information solely due to his status as a judge in an attempt to discredit the litigant in furtherance of his own private interest in responding to the Commission's inquiry. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B, 3B(4) and 6C(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct]. Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (10-01-14).
