Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (8/8/17)
08/08/2017
The judge failed to comply with the law; failed to maintain professional competence in the law; and engaged in improper ex parte communications when he: (1) failed to follow the procedures set forth in Article 45.0511 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, concerning a defendant’s failure to comply with terms of deferment on specified motor vehicle violations, by issuing a warrant before holding a show cause hearing; and (2) met privately with a defendant in his chambers, without the defendant’s counsel or a prosecutor present, and resolved the defendant’s warrant. [Violation of Canons 2A, 3B(2) and 6C(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. 08/08/17.
