tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post5000897188487685652..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Grits readers' disdain prompts closer look at Judicial Conduct Commission Sunset reviewGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-23463121928974304212011-12-09T06:30:24.532-06:002011-12-09T06:30:24.532-06:00Thanks, L, I corrected it. It's 7%. Last year ...Thanks, L, I corrected it. It's 7%. Last year three district judges were disciplined out of 42 total, and I accidentally copied the number instead of the percentage in one spot. Thanks for catching it.<br /><br />Appellate judges make up 3% of all judges, district judges 12%. But appellate judge account for just 3% of complaints, compared to 44% of complaints coming against district judges, who as mentioned accounted for just 7% of disciplinary actions last year.<br /><br />Just to mention it, in addition to fixing the transcription error described above, I also added the 2011 figures to the data tables, numbers for which were in the latest annual report but not the SER. The number of disciplinary actions in fy 2011 dropped quite sharply.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-17588451023341736272011-12-08T18:21:12.872-06:002011-12-08T18:21:12.872-06:00I don't see the need for confidentiality. Why...I don't see the need for confidentiality. Why do judges get this special protection? I'm sure there is some argument for it out there, but whatever it is, its probably outweighed by the need for the public to make sure the commission is doing its job. <br /><br />So, my suggestion, make these records just as open as any other government records. No special treatment for judges.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-91154509460686007542011-12-08T14:59:15.220-06:002011-12-08T14:59:15.220-06:00Grits, in one place you say district and appellate...Grits, in one place you say district and appellate judges, together, account for 7% of disciplinary actions. In another place, 3%. Which is it? They are in the same year, 2011. And what proportion of all judges are in these two groups?<br /><br />--L--Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-53939714062922794292011-12-08T13:31:36.648-06:002011-12-08T13:31:36.648-06:00It looks as though the SCJC is picking on JPs who ...It looks as though the SCJC is picking on JPs who are, typically, not lawyers by profession or education. I get the argument that a change towards JPs being required to have a law degree, but realistically, in some jurisdictions, this may not be possible (or, at least, the only lawyers in those communities who would want the job might not be suitable for various reasons). I'm sure several of those disciplinary actions against JPs were related to legalities in our complex system that were violated, but 55%? That seems a bit much, even for this state.A Texas POhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05675916968621862855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-15265741339451371122011-12-08T12:06:21.569-06:002011-12-08T12:06:21.569-06:00Well it seems Americans love being taken for a rid...Well it seems Americans love being taken for a ride, they keep voting republican and accusing hardworking Americans as socialists...ya ask for it, ya got it....these people will keep earning more money than you and your generation will ever earn despite having the same education and working even harder than these scumbags....well what can you say? It's a free country....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-71204299445256067702011-12-08T10:04:37.376-06:002011-12-08T10:04:37.376-06:00Anybody in power caught claims low budget, just fo...Anybody in power caught claims low budget, just following orders, etc. Even an independent agency can be pressured or bought off. This agency gives the appearance of having the chops and set up and resources to oversee. Yet they whine they can't DO it. What?? You mean you're sorry you got caught? <br /> Now we need to fully investigate the State Commission on Judicial Conduct? It's another committee wasting time—more so when it fails to perform its proper function. Where will the buck stop?<br /> Foxes & wolves have colluded to eat the chickens. The State Bar acts like a lawyers' union, self-protective, manipulative. The supremes are in an ivory tower--& probably got that concept from the feds. From the day it was created BY attorneys in spite of the TX Constitution, the Bar has been self-serving. Over time without oversight, some folks just abuse more power. It smacks of regular politics when the lower less-powerful judges are the ones canned, while the higher ones doing more damage are covered up. What is this, Chicago? Wow, TX should be better than this. <br /> The only possible advantage of getting the Legislature more involved is it might give We The People a voice—to cut through some of the appointed committees gone bad; except nowadays the Leg is largely mercenary, too. So without money to pay campaigns and other "contributions" so as to hold the Leg's attention, We The People can only cry out through watch dogs and other groups. Watch dogs alert the chickens they've been and may still be eaten. If the elected can be manipulated by the same folks that manipulate the appointed, checks and balances are lost. Every official is supposed to honour his oath. The climate and culture has become more like air traffic controllers: whoops, I was distracted.<br /> As on many topics, why create more legislation, when the laws in place are ignored? We HAVE judicial conduct and plenty rules, and an apparently-independent oversight group. We just have no upper will power to make those in power follow the rules. THE COMPLAINTS ARE LARGELY NOT FRIVOLOUS, yet the judge food-chain turns a blind eye, covers up and makes excuses.<br /> All politics, Courts and everyone in power are highly questionable, these days—having the APPEARANCE OF NEGLECT AND CORRUPTION. The stereotype of corruption is well deserved in general, and without follow-through by the honest members—MEANING whistle-blowing as necessary, the dishonest & incompetent push the envelope. Whistle-blowers are often destroyed, terrifying at least the meek. Combine that with the endless revenue raising, and is justice being served? Maybe for dinner.johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02808884177035705472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77824692947352123082011-12-07T21:35:06.902-06:002011-12-07T21:35:06.902-06:00How about that. If the agency was more transparen...How about that. If the agency was more transparent, you might find that the cjc is more incompetent than your readers think. Or you might find an agency that receives a lot of complaints about judge rulings and other apellate issues beyond the its authority. We may never know though...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-31931410604601110172011-12-07T12:28:16.139-06:002011-12-07T12:28:16.139-06:0011:56, why do you fantasize that the two are someh...11:56, why do you fantasize that the two are somehow mutually exclusive?<br /><br /><i>There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.</i>Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-2075895948383652762011-12-07T11:56:02.640-06:002011-12-07T11:56:02.640-06:00Holding Texas judges accountable for past miscondu...Holding Texas judges accountable for past misconduct. . .<br /><br />Some say we should hold criminals accountable. TYC has recently learned what happens when we don't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com