Keller impeachent proceedings begin today

I didn't think we'd see this during the 81st Texas Legislature, but the impeachment resolution for Presiding Judge Sharon Keller of the Court of Criminal Appeals will be heard this afternoon in the Texas House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Commitee. The Dallas News Trail Blazers blog has this preview:

- Back in committee, Sharon Keller, the chief justice of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, could soon face impeachment proceedings - there's a resolution under review by the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee to consider impeachment for "gross negligence of duty ... with willful disregard for human life." Keller's court hears appeals in capitol murder cases, and she refused to keep her office open past 5 p.m. to accept an appeals filing hours before an execution in 2007. The committee hearing begins upon final adjournment of the House.

- At the same hearing is a bill to dissolve the Court of Criminal Appeals and combine its role with the Texas Supreme Court. There's also a bill requiring state documentation of frivolous lawsuits.

Mark Bennett, blogger extraordinaire and president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association will be coming in to town for the event and points to this request for public input by resolution sponsor Lon Burnam:

“It is important that the committee be made aware of the public’s desire for impeachment,” [Texas Representative Lon] Burnam said. “I encourage anyone who wishes to see justice done in this matter to come to room E2.010 in the capitol on Monday afternoon and register ‘for’ House Resolution 480.”

See Burnam's press release about the resolution and hearing, which begins upon adjournment of the Texas House of Representatives this afternoon.

RELATED: "Ethicists say Keller should be removed from bench."