Private Reprimand and Order of Judicial Conduct of a Municipal Court Judge 03/13/2015
03/13/2015
The judge failed to comply with the law and demonstrated a lack of professional competence in the law when, in the absence of any written complaints and without a case having been filed with the court, the judge summoned the accused and witnesses to court, questioned them about the merits of oral complaints, performed her own independent investigation into the matter, and accompanied a law enforcement officer to the home of the accused so that a citation could be issued. The judge demonstrated a bias in favor of the Mayor, lent the prestige of the judicial office to advance the private interest of the Mayor and allowed herself to be swayed by public clamor and/or fear of criticism. Additionally; in another matter, the judge failed to comply with the law and demonstrated a lack of professional competence in the law by accepting a defendant's plea over the telephone and signing the defendant's name to the plea form and waiver of a jury trial. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B, 3B(2) and 3B(5) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct]. Private Reprimand and Order of Judicial Conduct of a Municipal Court Judge. 03/13/2015.
