Monday, June 21, 2010

Three options in Keller case for Judicial Conduct Commission

Austin Statesman courts reporter Chuck Lindell emails with a correction regarding possible options for the Sharon Keller Commission on Judicial Conduct proceedings:
So you know, the SCJC chairman misspoke during the hearing about their options.

He said they could issue a censure, reprimand, warning or admonition ... but that's a regular case.

After these "formal proceedings," they can only issue a CENSURE, dismiss or recommend removal.

(verified by Seana Willing, who also said the rules are wrong ... not updated ... when they say 6 votes needed to remove. It's 7, like McKetta told the commish.)
Of the three options - censure, dismissal, or recommending removal - let me know in the comments which you think the commission will choose.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think they'll censure her, which is a shame, because she ought to be removed. But you know how these things go, gotta protect the club members.

Sam said...

Censure

Anonymous said...

We were able to delay his execution for 21 years. In the name of justice that was not near enough. There was no need to end his life. Keller should be dismissed.

Anonymous said...

"In the name of justice,' he should have been executed within one year of his conviction for capital murder. At least 20 years too many with the taxpayers' resources being wasted on this worthless POS. The charges against Keller should be dismissed.

Anonymous said...

Why should they be dismissed? She broke the law, not once but several times, didn't she? What makes her and other corrupt officials like her above the law?

TDCJEX said...

She will be censured and “ told” by a powerful person in the RNC to take her millions and go quietly off into a pre arranged job as a professor or maybe in some sort of right wing think tank .Maybe a some of counsel job at some business law firm where she can make a lot of money and use her connections to get favorable things for her clients .

Tg is what happens to misbehaving embarrassing politicians . She dos have that criminal matter of providing false information about her wealth . That could be a felony . . I wonder what she will think of harmless errors if she is convicted an sent to TDCJ . She could become a jail house lawyer a good 15 year bid will be good for her .She will have a life and ideology changing experience. Once you are in white you are now them as far as TDCJ and it employees are concerned . To think Keller could go to prison and help convicts write writs and gain their freedom now that I justice

Will her fans here write her in prison and make sure she has a full commissary account .

Don Dickson said...

I predict censure. God forbid a state board or commission should show any cajones.

Anonymous said...

She broke the law? Was there a law that said the court clerk's office had to stay open after 5:00? What law did she break? Cite please.

Anonymous said...

How bout these?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/033009dnprokellerasets.3df3149.html'>http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/033009dnprokellerasets.3df3149.html'>http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/033009dnprokellerasets.3df3149.html

Anonymous said...

Here it is in short form, that's a pretty long article to read.

The Texas Government Code requires state officeholders to disclose "all beneficial interests in real property" held by the official, a spouse or any dependents. Failure to comply could subject the officeholder to civil and criminal penalties.

Gritsforbreakfast said...

1:18, the examiner gave all the citations in a convenient power point presentation.

Comfortably Numb said...

In a nation where the most powerful court sees no problem with a prosecutor and DA sleeping with each other during a capital case they are assigned to, my guess is that this commission will censure her at worst.

Anonymous said...

I would be very surprised if they remove. I will not be surprised if they dismiss. Most likely censure. And then she will run for reelection and win.

Charles in Tulia

Angee said...

Censure.If removed she could write a tell-all book about her cohorts. Nobody wants to be a chapter.

TDCJEX said...

You mean these crimes .You really do not know about them are you serious ! It is national news . That I find hard to believe or you simply chose not to accept that Keller could be in a world of trouble and your favorite (in )justice will no longer be around to execute and incarcerate the innocent .

Keller's attorney says her omissions in disclosure form were unintentional
12:28 AM CDT on Wednesday, April 1, 2009
By STEVE McGONIGLE / The Dallas Morning News
smcgonigle@dallasnews.com
The failure of the state's highest criminal court judge to disclose all of her real estate holdings was unintentional and not an attempt to hide assets, her attorney said Tuesday.
Also Online
Download: Sharon Keller's verified answer to the notice of formal proceedings (.pdf)
04/23/09: Texas House panel will hear testimony Monday on bill to impeach Justice Sharon Keller
04/01/09: Keller's attorney says her omissions in disclosure form were unintentional
03/31/09: Judge Keller's disclosures omit nearly $2 million in real estate, public records show
3/25/2009: Judge blames executed man's lawyers
3/8/2009: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge's actions called into question
3/3/2009: Senior judge denies urging Keller to quit
2/20/2009: Keller faces public hearing for conduct over 2007 death-penalty appeal
02/17/09: Impeachment of Keller sought over '07 execution
11/08/07: Executed man's wife sues judge
11/07/07: Emergency e-mail created for executions
10/28/07: 'Killer Keller' stays tough on death-row inmates
10/11/07: Lawyers: Judge violated rights of man executed after injection case taken
Sharon Keller's repeated omissions from sworn financial statements she was required by law to file appear to be the result of a "clerical error" and the judge not knowing that her father had put properties under her name, atto
…..
The complaints were filed with the ethics commission and the Travis County attorney's office. If upheld, they could subject Keller to fines of up to $10,000 per violation or a possible jail term of up to six months

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/040109dntexkeller.8c6379eb.html

Keller blames her father for not telling her . Now that has to be the lamest excuse ever you would think after hearing all kinds of cases she could have been a little more creative in her lie . I hope no one believes that she is a grown adult I am sure she knew full well she has millions . Hey maybe the transactions accidentally got into her account and name by a typographical error and she never knew .How does any not know they have millions? I really believe that .Her father is not going to tell her about that kind of money .

Ironic isn't Keller and her few supporters want what she denied any one who went before her .
She will be censured and then not run to peruse new opportunities . Like all the other political who c should be in prison when they get caught violating the law .

The best Irony is that she would happily send most of her support to prison and make up ways to keep them there . They don t get it that if she can make up reason to keep a person they hate in prison she will make yu u[ reasons to keep them in prison should they find them selves locked up and don't go saying it wont be you . It easily can be . Once you are a suspect you are guilty it is very easy to be a suspect .

She could be trading a black uniform for a white on I love it .She wil learn what it means to be right and told there is nothing you can do about it . That would be a fitting punishment for her .I f only she can be locked up for a good 10 flat

Anonymous said...

She's a Republican - I say she should go. Don't look shocked - you're thinking the same thing I am. I say she should be removed.

Anonymous said...

What about the fourth option: Complete Exoneration.

Gritsforbreakfast said...

Read the post, 6:41, that's not an option.

Anonymous said...

I sure it just galls you bleeding heart liberals to no end that the vast majority of Texans still support law enforcement, the death penalty, and really do appreciate conservative judges like Keller who don't "willy nilly" overturn jury verdicts for little or no reason at all. Thank God this isn't New York or California. Just watch the poll numbers in November when, likely, there will still be no Democrat elected to statewide office. Can anyone remember the last time a Dem was elected to statewide office in Texas? What has it been? 10 or 15 years at least?

Thankfully, the views of most of the sympathizers of the "criminal element" on this blog are in the miniscule minority. The vast majority of Texans, crossing all racial and ethnic bounderies, still trust the police, want to feel safe in their home, don't believe the criminal justice system is broken (except for thinking that the prisons are too comfortable for criminals) and appreciate judges like Sharon Keller. You liberals can get yourselves all worked up into a lather while the mainstream liberal media in Texas supports you but I've got news for you: The overwhelming majority of Texans don't!!!

Gritsforbreakfast said...

8:30, you're the one who seems worked up into a lather. If what's written here is so irrelevant, why are you here reading it?

Shiela Nance said...

To Anonymous, who doesn't have the courage to leave his name. I have dealt with corrupt judges before, one in Tarrant County, and she is famous for giving all MEN the maximum sentence. There is no such thing as innocent in the Texas judicial system, everybody's is guilty unless you have enough money to buy your way out.
I hope she gets her justice by the hand of someone she wrongfully convicted. That would be justice.

I hope some day your get caught up in the Texas judicial system, for whatever reason, so you will find there is no justice. I don't feel safe, I don't believe in the judicial system, I think she should hang myself, anybody else would, why should she be exempt? I'm not a liberal, nor a conservative. I just seek the same justice for all, and you won't find it in Texas. Don't speak for the "vast Majority" because you know not what of you speak. And as far the prison remark, I hope you wind up there some day, you'll change your tune.

Anonymous said...

So, are you saying that Michael Wayne Richard, a twice-convicted killer, was wrongly convicted?

Gritsforbreakfast said...

11:20, you're trolling. Nobody said that at all.

Anonymous said...

"I hope she gets her justice by the hand of someone she wrongfully convicted. That would be justice."

What does that mean? She wants someone who was "wrongfully convicted" to kill the judge? Is that it, please explain.

Who did the judge wrongly convict?

Anonymous said...

Annie 8:30: you need to chill guy, before you stroke out and spill your metamucil all over the nursing home's keyboard. Find me somebody under the age of 45 who trusts leo's and I'll buy you an extra pudding when you eat dinner tonight at 3 p.m.
Here's a link about governmental trust and the lack thereof, just for shits and giggles. It's about the fed, but I think we can reasonably extrapolate from this a waning of trust in ALL areas of government, including state and judicial.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/19/trust-in-government-poll_n_542423.html


And seriously, when you ask for proof of things, and then we give it to you (thus proving that you're wrong), have the stones to admit it.

Anonymous said...

Here's one a little more germane.

http://www.laits.utexas.edu/txp_media/html/just/features/0500_01/policeopinion.html

I'd post more, but damned if I can figure out how to get a link to actually look like a link.

Grandmom said...

Unless I am mistaken, Keller's attorney implied that Dow would sacrifice the life of his client by purposely filing the writ late, just to put Keller on the spot. Despicable. Keller denied saying that the court was closed at 5 at her hearing. What she meant was that the CLERK'S OFFICE was closed, and the attorneys could file anyway. This thinking exemplifies her attitudes toward appellants. Lies, myths and illusions. Or maybe delusions. No wonder only 3% of convictions are overturned by the CCA.

TDCJEX said...

Shelia , The Coward troll is a very troubled person who is on the road to institutionalization. His disorganized and tangential , delusional and often incoherent posts Are those of a very troubled person who has p other problems in life . He is the trade off we make in order to have freedom of speech . I would rather he speak than be silenced . Though I question those who are inciting the radical a fringe for political gain . I believe that few of the loud mouths have crossed that line from free speech and have deliberately incited a already angry , ignorant and fearful segment of society some are clearly paranoid and delusional .

To be fair Texas is by no means unique in injustice. People like Keller and John Bradley just give injustice a face Though I would guess that there is more injustice in Texas. This is because they are politician first and judges or persecutors . Many of them are beholden to special interest groups that have a vested interest in mass incarceration and a very powerful and intrusive government .Then there are laws that limit a prisoners ability to show they were wronged . We have greatly limited our Habeas rights . That is a disgrace . One first step is to return our Habeas Corpus rights so we can at least raise issues and discuss them until more of coity take note of what is going on in our (in) justice system . We were Bsd into surrendering them At onetime our right to petition the government was unhindered by artificial barriers designed to uphold convictions and prevent us from showing the government violated the law .It is unfortunate that the tough on crime zealots and assorted wingnuts have been successful at labeling Constitutional violations as technicalities they are not . The y are violating the Constitution

I too hope that these tough on crime types find them selves in TDCJ some could . Angry disturbed people eventually act out when posting anonymous rants and tirades no longer is satisfying in and does proved the trill they seek the escalate it . Radicals with a lot of anger / rage a false but passionate belief that they hold the absolute truth with out fail act out violently . That is why a growing number of social scientists are very concerned about the teabaggers

What Many on this blog want is a fair and just system that is based in reality not some rigged procedure where . We can both hold people accountable do it fairly and honestly . Where each case is judged on reality, what really happened and treating every defendant as a individual each case is unique and should be treated as such . Prosecutors should not be racking up convictions . But seeking justice . That might mean rebuilding the system and even given those currently incarcerated both a level playing field and review each case as need I can think of many that should be reviewed and the charged either dropped or greatly reduced. Not mention the whole drug war .

But first we need to take the thumb of the states side of the scales of justice and out the blindfold back on ,. Then we can start by given each defendant the exact amount the state spends over seen by independent organization . That does not have a interest in the out come .Do away with plea bargains for testimony and most plea deal to begin with . Those are a few suggestions along with allowing a prisoner to file as many appeals / writs as needed to obtain justice .

Annon maleton . Do you lack any reading comprehension skills . Are you really that stupid or do you just enjoy being a jerk and making an idiot out of yourself in the process . You really need to chill and get out of you mom's basement once in a while .

R S . our coward honestly believes his view is the only correct one and he probably truly believes that anything showing his view to be false, a “liberal conspiracy .” That is what is called delusional

TDCJEX said...

Need to add When is annon mamaguevo. going to blame Davd Dow for all of Keller's problems and anything else he can think of ? David Dow and TDS have been a object of obsession for the delusional disturbed wingnut .


Yes I said some thing bad in Spanish .

Anonymous said...

03:38
Most of use are against everything the Tea Party stands for. But, when you use a sexually derogatory term like "teabaggers" to assail your opponents you do more harm than good. Also, your message seemed too much like a rant.

Anonymous said...

But, when you use a sexually derogatory term like "teabaggers" to assail your opponents you do more harm than good.

Just curious, how is the term "teabaggers" sexually derogatory?

Anonymous said...

Keller should be removed along with that judge in Tarrant county and Jarrett in Caldwell County. Actually, Judge Edward L. Jarrett in Caldwell County stepped on the wrong toes with his arrogance and is now facing the hot seat. He went from making his own rules to trying to suppress evidence to now seeking a quick vacation to recupe now that he's been busted. Keller has gotten humbled and so will Jarrett.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Forgot to post the link.

http://www.teapartypatriots.org/BlogPostView.aspx?id=af49c010-5dab-4fca-8c06-921181d52b37

I'm not against 'everything the Tea Party stands for', I belong to it. The above is a link to the the core principles that drive the party, I fail to understand how anyone could find fault with them. And for the annie who doesn't know what teabagging is, I suggest you go to Google's home page and type 'teabagging' in the search box. A wealth of knowledge will soon be yours.

Anonymous said...

Damn it, I STILL can't get the link to actually link. Here's the core principles:


Core Values

* Fiscal Responsibility
* Constitutionally Limited Government
* Free Markets



Fiscal Responsibility: Fiscal Responsibility by government honors and respects the freedom of the individual to spend the money that is the fruit of their own labor. A constitutionally limited government, designed to protect the blessings of liberty, must be fiscally responsible or it must subject its citizenry to high levels of taxation that unjustly restrict the liberty our Constitution was designed to protect. Such runaway deficit spending as we now see in Washington D.C. compels us to take action as the increasing national debt is a grave threat to our national sovereignty and the personal and economic liberty of future generations.

Constitutionally Limited Government: We, the members of The Tea Party Patriots, are inspired by our founding documents and regard the Constitution of the United States to be the supreme law of the land. We believe that it is possible to know the original intent of the government our founders set forth, and stand in support of that intent. Like the founders, we support states' rights for those powers not expressly stated in the Constitution. As the government is of the people, by the people and for the people, in all other matters we support the personal liberty of the individual, within the rule of law.

Free Markets: A free market is the economic consequence of personal liberty. The founders believed that personal and economic freedom were indivisible, as do we. Our current government's interference distorts the free market and inhibits the pursuit of individual and economic liberty. Therefore, we support a return to the free market principles on which this nation was founded and oppose government intervention into the operations of private business.

Anonymous said...

10:57
Obama is going to change all that.

TDCJEX said...

I am not doing validate or give any res pct to an organization that advocates genocide . I and million of naturally born us citizens who happen to be Hispanic find the teabaggers to be a particularity pernicious and hateful branch of the so called neo conservative movement . I will not give then any validity and call by the name they originally were told to use by Fox media . They are nothing but a group of racists who are angry because man of African descent with a funny sounding name is president. As a Hispanic I find teabbaggers to be particularly offensive I am sick of being scapegoated for all of the world ills .

There is nothing art all wrong with both having passion and the facts on your side . I would love to see more of the radical rights opponents show more emotion and passion . Being academic and having the facts on your side is not enough. Since this is a criminal justice blog . Lets use Kelly Siegler . She used emotion to win convictions . She made them afraid and that is how in cases she should have lost she won . She sadly was seduced by the win at all cost mentality that infects all prosecutors offices

It is not a rant to decry injustice, why it happens and add in a few suggestions,

I was on the receiving end of the injustice stick . I have a lot of anger at a system that failed and deliberately tormented me . Sorry I am not going to have some Kumbya moment with those who would if they could kill me simply for existing .You do not simply forget and forgive after being in a TDCJ hellhole . I chose to use my anger to show a few people what the system is if I can open one heart than I have succeeded where others have failed .

Maybe when you are told to clean up the cell where another man tried to end his life because he could no longer take what TDCJ and a corrupt system have done to him you might feel differently and have some anger at a system that is broken beyond repair .Maybe if you see a family collapses as they walk out of a final visit of a loved one who the next time they will see will be strapped to a gurney to die maybe you might think different when you see guards and their supervisors high fiveing after a man is put in the death coach for that last ride to their death . You might just wonder what the hell kind of evil system did we create

So yeah I am amgry

R Shakleford I have few problems with that one is where the hell have they been for the past 30 years ? When we ran up all this debt .

Go to a teabggger rally it is scary to see a bunch of older white folks waving Confederate flags and posters of Obama with a Hitler mustache . A whole host of racist posters and speeches . The have been showing up on droves to support the racist laws in AZ .

A internet search is very interesting and sad cometary of how divisive the teabaggers are they are any thing but what they claim .

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/march222010/tea-baggers-tk.php

a little humor

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/11/jon-stewart-catches-sean_n_353447.html


The Repbus would do well to come up with better candidates than

http://vodpod.com/watch/3866845-angle-unemployed-are-spoiled-its-not-my-job-to-fight-for-nevadans-jobs

!Caution profanity an,political satire and sarcasm in the below link !

http://gawker.com/5545249/how-rand-paul-is-the-new-sarah-palin

What Teabagging rally is really all about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S38VioxnBaI

I personally think that Dick Armey and his Cronin at Fuax noise deliberately used the word Teabagger as some sort of inside joke The Teabaggers got there initial funding from FreedomWorks Dick Armey's lobby firm that lobbying for AIG among others.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=FreedomWorks

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tea_Party_movement_funding


That speaks for it self

Anonymous said...

The term “tea baggers,” has emerged in liberal media outlets and elsewhere as a method of mocking the activists and their concerns. CNBC uses this term on a non-stop basis as does CNN and others. President Obama couldn't resist using this sexually derogratory term to smear opponents of his massive deficit spending.

Anonymous said...

Should have been MSNBC instead of CNBC.

TDCJEX said...

While Way n OT Teabaggers called themselves Teabaggers . Some unaware of the sexual connotations. Of the word . As MR Google
The more intelligent and knowledgeable of slang in the meadi took off and ran with the AstroTurf organizations gaffe and it stuck . it really is not as bad as the N word. Tyhogh they did embarrass themselves and .


I like this from Urban Dictionary


Notice that the were not at all concerned about the last administrations record deficits and power garbs along with what should be crimes if Obama grew a pair .

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=teabagger&defid=3902158





teabagger



A misinformed, right-wing corporate media consumer who often fails to understand that BOTH major parties represent a corrupt plutocracy that steals from the middle class by taxing labor and profiting from corporate tax subsidies.

A teabagger also often fails to acknowledge that George W. Bush and his neo-conservative minions perpetrated one of the boldest and most egregious executive power grabs in the history of the United States. Furthermore, teabaggers mistakenly continue to blame a newly elected President Obama for all that ails the United States of America, based on a grossly flawed perception of reality (including latent racial prejudice) and despite the fact the U.S. economy collapsed on the previous administration's watch.

Teabaggers are also known to base their misguided, right-wing-media-inspired beliefs about President Obama on stupid conspiracy theories about totalitarian takeovers, FEMA camps, etc., despite the fact these very same theories have been circulating around on the Internet for years, and were originally ascribed to neo-conservative cabalists at a time when Barack Obama had not even entered national politics. Teabaggers also are known to be particularly paranoid, xenophobic and intolerant, especially with regard to immigrants and anyone who isn't white.


They realty did start it !Callingthe Teabaggers is not a liberal conspiracy . Not everything is liberal or conservative somethings are just funny as hell people calling themselves teabaggers is one of them.

First it is satire and humor . Second If your going to call your self an name or use a slogan you might want to check to see if it has other means in I can't think of lots of advertisements that had some sort of other meanings .

Why is it the radical right finds it acceptable to use ethnic, racial slurs and making not so subtle inferences about a persons sexuality yet when they use a rem to describe a sex act on themselves it suddenly is bad. What wil next week bring in terms of scandal and hypocrisy


They are Hypocrites. Just like Keller who whines about not getting afair “trail and being tried in the media yet it is not a problem for those who have been before her in court . Does anyone see a problem with Keller and her supporters behavior . It is ok to lock up and execute innocent people but dot so much as make fun of those right wingnuts in any way hey you guys brought it on yourselves just like Keller

Read wingnuts and Idiot America very informative and worth the money .


Tommy Christopher at Mediaite has it about right:
“The origin of the term is relevant in determining the relative size of the Tea Party’s violin. What wasn’t pointed out to Tapper is the fact that the Tea Partiers not only invented the term, they did so in order to inflict a similar double entendre onto the President, the Democrats, and liberals in general. Hence, it’s a violin so small, you need an electron microscope with a zoom lens to see it.”


http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/enough-whining-teabaggers-actually-i


If the implications were not so serious they teabaggers would be funny a hell

Anonymous said...

Fire the Bitch!!

Anonymous said...

I like the core values. As for the other stuff, the religious anti-abortion kind of stuff, not so much. Basically, I just want people to have as many freedoms as possible, while the government has as few powers as possible. Kind of like belonging to the NRA: you know they're making trade-offs, but they're still the most effective lobby for the 2nd amendment around.

Anonymous said...

One last tea party comment (we've hijacked the hell out of this thread): I think the core principles are solid. It's the people who try to shoehorn their own wacky ass personal agendas into the core message that make the rest of us look bad. And I can't speak for anyone else for the last 30 years TDCJ EX, but I was there, hollering at every huge spending scheme or patriot act-esque erosion of the Constitution. Maybe this is happening now because, with the internet, we have access to more and more timely info than we've ever had before. But don't judge all Tea Partiers by the few aholes and zealots that screech their various pet messages of hate or intolerance, most of us just want the government to remember that it serves US, we don't serve it.

cjSweetwater said...

I think she'll be censured...but she should be fired! I, personally, think she should be prosecuted but it'll never happen. What she did is simply criminal!

Article 99 said...

Face it folks, shit floats to the top in Texas. Expect the least and hope for the most.

Anonymous said...

Since the political light of truth is shining on this case the comission really has no choice. for if they vote to dismiss or censure, they'll be seen as caving in to legal backroom politics, so they have to vote for removal. I think most Texans would prefer to see any malfactor get what is coming to them be they a lawyer, judge, police officer, or everyday speeder: a penalty that matches their willful misbehavior to the max.