Private Reprimand and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (4/9/21)
04/09/2021
The judge failed to comply with the law and maintain professional competence in the law, failed to accord a person having a legal interest in a proceeding before him the right to be heard according to law, and engaged in improper ex parte communications when he: (1) engaged in improper ex parte communications with a complaining party regarding her peace bond application; (2) engaged in improper ex parte communications with the respondent regarding the peace bond application; (3) failed to accord the respondent the right to be heard according to law with respect to the peace bond application; (4) issued a peace bond in the matter without a sworn complaint; (5) failed to comply with his court’s own written guidelines regarding peace bond procedures; and (6) had a custom of engaging in improper ex parte communications with both the applicant and respondent in peace bond matters. [Violations of Canons 2A, 3B(2), 3B(8) and 6C(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Reprimand and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace. (4/9/21).
