Private Sanctions Issued FY 2000

Action	Date Issued	Summary
Private Admonition of a Justice of the Peace (10/04/99)	10/04/1999	The judge's son-in-law and the son-in-law's acquaintance approached the judge about filing criminal charges against a person who allegedly assaulted the son-in-law and the acquaintance in the same incident. The judge accepted criminal charges from the acquaintance only, issued an arrest warrant for the person who allegedly assaulted him and recommended an appearance bond in charges arising from an altercation in which his son-in-law participated. [Violation of Canons 2A and 2B of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a Justice of the Peace (10/04/99).
Private Admonition and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (10/22/99)	10/22/1999	The judge inappropriately refused a defendant's request to contact an attorney when the defendant was brought before the judge for magistration in a criminal proceeding. Instead, the judge asked if the defendant wanted to enter a plea. In a separate civil case, the judge entered a default judgment in favor of the judge's bailiff. In addition, the judge refused to accept a pauper's affidavit for filing and denied a party's access to the court's file in the matter. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B and 3B(4) of a Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (10/22/99)
Private Warning of a Title IV-D Master (10/04/99)	10/04/1999	The master limited an attorney's ability to practice law in the master's court and advised the attorney that he intended to treat the attorney differently than other attorneys appearing in the court. [Violation of Canons 2A, 3B(5) and 3B(8) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Title IV-D Master (10/04/99)
Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (10/25/99)	10/25/1999	The judge telephoned a traffic defendant, who had requested a jury trial, in an effort to avoid conducting a jury trial. Subsequently, the judge telephoned the defendant on three occasions to explain the legal options available to him. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (10/25/99)
Private Warning and Order of Education of Justice of the Peace (11/15/99)	11/15/1999	The judge accepted personal property from a criminal defendant in lieu of payment of court costs. [Violation of Canon 2A of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning and Order of Education of Justice of the Peace (11/15/99)
Private Admonition of a Justice of the Peace (11/15/99)	11/15/1999	The judge magistrated and secured the release of his son. [Violation of Canon 2A of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a Justice of the Peace (11/15/99)
Private Order of Education of Justice of the Peace (11/15/99)	11/15/1999	Although no case was pending in the judge's court, the judge telephoned and personally met with a landlord to encourage the landlord to resolve the dispute with the tenant, and issued to the landlord a letter on official stationery. The judge presided over an action filed later by the tenant against the landlord, after engaging in numerous ex parte communications with each party. Instead of scheduling the hearing in accordance with the time frames set forth in the Texas Property Code, the judge conducted the hearing on the same day the landlord was served with the citation. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B and 6C(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Education of Justice of the Peace (11/15/99)
Private Warning of a Former Associate Judge (12/17/99)	12/17/1999	The judge made improper comments to an attorney, including a threat to take retaliatory action against the attorney. [Violation of Canons 2A, 3B(4) and 3B(5) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Former Associate Judge (12/17/99)
Private Reprimand of a County Court at Law Judge (12/17/99)	12/17/1999	The judge consumed an excessive amount of alcohol while attending a social gathering of a local bar association and, during that gathering, urinated into a garbage receptacle located in an open area, which was in sight of guests. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Reprimand of a County Court at Law Judge (12/17/99)
Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (12/17/99)	12/17/1999	The judge erroneously assessed fines in water district ordinance cases and wrongly held hearings on an "instanter" basis. [Violation of Canon 2A of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (12/17/99)
Private Order of Additional Education of Justice of the Peace (12/27/99)	12/27/1999	The judge permitted the court staff to telephone a traffic defendant to attempt to persuade the defendant to waive the right to a trial. In a separate case, the judge negotiated a plea bargain agreement and the "instanter" payment of the fine and costs imposed on a traffic defendant. [Violation of Canons 2A and 6C(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of Justice of the Peace (12/27/99)
Private Order of Additional Education of Justice of the Peace (12/27/99)	12/27/1999	The judge improperly ordered a young man to remove his earring or leave the premises of the courthouse. [Violation of Canon 2A of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of Justice of the Peace (12/27/99)
Private Order of Additional Education of Justice of the Peace (12/27/99)	12/27/1999	The judge failed to accept take-home video driving safety instruction as a valid prerequisite for dismissing traffic citations. The judge required qualified traffic defendants to complete defensive driving courses that were administered in a classroom setting. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Order of Additional Education of Justice of the Peace (12/27/99)
Private Reprimand of a County Judge (01/25/00)	01/25/2000	The judge, whose court has jurisdiction over alcohol-related offenses, pled guilty to the charge of driving while intoxicated. [Violation of Canons 2A and 4A(1) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Reprimand of a County Judge (01/25/00)
Private Reprimand and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (01/25/00)	01/25/2000	The judge attempted to mediate a private dispute, even though no case was pending in the judge's court. Additionally, the judge engaged in ex parte communications with a law enforcement officer about the merits of a criminal case, and issued a fine without giving the defendant the opportunity to enter a plea and without holding a hearing. [Violation of Canons 2B, 3B(8) and 6C(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Reprimand & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (01/25/00)
Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (01/25/00)	01/25/2000	After the judge's court had lost jurisdiction over the civil case, the judge assisted the plaintiff in collecting on the judgment. Without holding a hearing, the judge held the defendant in contempt for failure to pay the judgment and issued a warrant for the defendant's arrest. In a separate criminal case, the judge issued an arrest warrant for an unnamed defendant based upon a sworn complaint, which was devoid of specifics. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (01/25/00)
Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (01/25/00)	01/25/2000	During telephone calls with a litigant, the judge made disparaging comments about the litigant and told the litigant that the judge would throw the litigant in jail if the litigant came to the judge's court. [Violation of Canon 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (01/25/00)
Private Admonition of a Justice of the Peace (01/25/00)	01/25/2000	Judge A wrote a letter on official court stationery to Judge B asking Judge B to allow Judge A's son to take a driving safety course in lieu of fine. [Violation of Canon 2B of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a Justice of the Peace (01/25/00)
Private Admonition and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (01/25/00)	01/25/2000	The judge improperly conducted "informal" peace bond hearings without requiring cash and/or a surety bond, engaged in improper ex parte communications, and used the prestige of her office to influence a private citizen. [Violation of Canons 2B and 6C(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (01/25/00)
Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (02/02/00)	02/02/2000	The judge failed to properly supervise a clerk under her direction over a five-year period; relied upon the clerk to receive, record, deposit and report funds received by the court; made no effort to learn the use of computerized information system used by the court, allowed clerk access to signature stamp bearing the judge's name, and relied on the advice given by the clerk. The clerk's actions resulted in the clerk being indicted for theft and tempering with or fabricating evidence and tampering with governmental records. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (02/02/00)
Private Admonition of a District Judge (02/10/00)	02/10/2000	Following the jury's deliberation and verdict, the judge made negative comments to jurors about a litigant's attorney's integrity and professionalism, and comments about the litigant that indicated the judge would not be fair and impartial concerning the litigant's case in the future. (The judge had continuing jurisdiction over the litigant's case.) [Violation of Canon 3B(10) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a District Judge (02/10/00)
Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (02/11/00)	02/11/2000	Prior to the expiration of the 30 days allowed by law for a traffic defendant to present a certificate of completion of a driving safety course, a judge issued a show cause order requiring the defendant to appear and explain why the defendant had not submitted the certificate of completion, rendered a judgment against the defendant, and issued a capias pro fine for the arrest of the defendant for failure to submit the certificate of completion. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (02/11/00)
Private Warning of a Municipal Judge (02/22/00)	02/22/2000	The judge prepared a newspaper advertisement in which the judge urged local residents to vote for a specific candidate for a local public office. [Violation of Canons 2B and 5(3) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Municipal Judge (02/22/00)
Private Warning of an Appellate Justice (02/22/00)	02/22/2000	The judge mailed postcards urging voters to support the judge's son's political campaign. [Violation of Canons 2B and 5(3) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of an Appellate Justice (02/22/00)
Private Admonition of Justice of the Peace (04/26/00)	04/26/2000	The judge did not act in a "patient, dignified and courteous" manner when dealing with a prosecutor in an official capacity. [Violation of Canon 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of Justice of the Peace (04/26/00)
Private Reprimand of an Associate Judge (04/26/00)	04/26/2000	The judge used demeaning, profane, and unprofessional language to parents who were before the judge's court in custody cases. [Violation of Canons 2B, 3B(3) and 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Reprimand of an Associate Judge (04/26/00)
Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (04/26/00)	04/26/2000	The judge held a litigant in contempt of court when court was not in session and committed the litigant to jail. In addition, the judge failed to maintain professional competence in the law. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (04/26/00)
Private Warning and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (05/01/00)	05/01/2000	The judge sought information on a juvenile from the police to help a friend and former employee, and the judge admonished the juvenile when no case was pending before the judge's court. [Violation of Canons 2A, 2B and 3B(10) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (05/01/00)
Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (05/01/00)	05/01/2000	The judge failed to provide judicial case records to the public. [Violation of Canon 2A of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (05/01/00)
Private Admonition and Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (05/11/00)	05/11/2000	Judge A telephoned and wrote letters to Judge B on behalf of a traffic defendant who had a case pending in Judge B's court. [Violation of Canon 2B of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition & Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (05/11/00)
Private Admonition of a Justice of the Peace (06/28/00)	06/28/2000	The judge was willful in his conduct and inconsistent with his duties when he was unavailable to perform magistrate's duties and failed to advise his office of where or whether he could be found or contacted. He did not at any time contact his office to advise it of his illness and availability. [Violation of Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.] Private Admonition of a Justice of the Peace (06/28/00)
Private Warning of a Municipal Judge (08/16/00)	08/16/2000	The judge failed to obtain the mandatory judicial education hours during fiscal year 1999. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Municipal Judge (08/16/00)
Private Warning of a County Judge (08/16/00)	08/16/2000	The judge failed to obtain the mandatory judicial education hours during fiscal year 1999. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a County Judge (08/16/00)
Private Warning of a Former District Judge (08/16/00)	08/16/2000	The judge failed to obtain the mandatory judicial education hours during fiscal year 1999. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Former District Judge (08/16/00)
Private Warning of a Municipal Judge (08/16/00)	08/16/2000	The judge failed to obtain the mandatory judicial education hours during fiscal year 1999. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Municipal Judge (08/16/00)
Private Admonition of a County Court at Law Judge (08/16/00)	08/16/2000	The judge met privately in chambers with a party's attorney and, based upon that meeting, announced a decision in the case. [Violation of Canon 3B(8) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a County Court at Law Judge (08/16/00)
Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (08/16/00)	08/16/2000	The judge held a hearing when no case was pending in his court. [Violation of Canon 2A of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Municipal Court Judge (08/16/00)
Private Warning of a Municipal Judge (08/21/00)	08/21/2000	The judge failed to obtain the mandatory judicial education hours during fiscal year 1999. [Violation of Canons 2A and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Warning of a Municipal Judge (08/21/00)
Private Admonition of a District Judge (08/21/00)	08/21/2000	The judge told a city manager that the judge would bring the manager before a grand jury if the manager further threatened certain police officers with termination from their jobs. Additionally, during an election in which the judge's father was a candidate, the judge talked to a voter within the prohibited electioneering area and disputed the time that the polls closed with the election judge. [Violation of Canon 2B of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition of a District Judge (08/21/00)
Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (08/21/00)	08/21/2000	When the defendant failed to appear, the judge entered a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff for $62.00 in court costs only. The judgment was not signed by the judge and did not have the court seal in place. The plaintiff later obtained from court personnel a copy of a document appearing to be a final judgment awarding the plaintiff $5,000, which was stamped with the judge's official seal and signed with a stamped signature. The judge did not review the document nor did he direct his court personnel to stamp the document with the judge's signature in the judge's presence. Instead, the judge allowed court personnel to have access to the stamp and official seal, and in the judge's absence, use the judge's signature stamp on documents and letters. This practice resulted in an incorrect judgment being provided to the plaintiff. [Violation of Canon 2A of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Order of Additional Education of a Justice of the Peace (08/21/00)