Category Archives: Judge Watch

Judge Watch: 2460 Year Prison Sentence Upheld by Texas Appeals Court, More Great Publicity for Texas Criminal Justice System

Once again, Texas courts are making international headlines and not in a good way.  This week, the Texas Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit over in Fort Worth issued its decision in the case of James Kevin Pope.  Seems Mr. Pope was tried and convicted of sexual assault of a child — an unfortunate crime,…


Judge Watch: Tarrant County Judge Tiffany Lewis Pleads Guilty, Goes to Jail

Tiffany Lewis’s life will never be the same now that she’s pled guilty to taking client money — lots of client money — in a probate case … but we’re not too sure how ashamed she is just yet …. On September 15, 2009, former judge Tiffany Lewis pled guilty just as testimony was about…


Judge Watch: RIP Judge Jerry Buchmeyer

The Honorable Jerry Buchmeyer died this week in a San Marcos nursing home at the age of 76, after serving the bench for over 30 years.  Considered by many to be a liberal judge, with landmark decisions involving both public housing and redistricting in this state, he achieved even more notoriety for his now famous…


Judge Watch: Court of Crim Appeals Says Not Unfair to Defendant Hood for Judge and DA to Have Affair During Trial

If you’re shaking your head in disbelief at this week’s ruling by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals — well, join the crowd.   When the news first hit that a trial court judge and the district attorney who prosecuted cases in her courtroom had had a long-standing sexual relationship, lots of folk were stunned.  And lots…


Judge Watch: Houston Judge Donald Jackson in Big Trouble – Suspended AND Indicted

While they are waiting for Judge Berchelmann’s findings in the Justice Keller matter, the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct isn’t taking a holiday … yesterday they suspended a Houston judge, with pay…. Houston Criminal County Court at Law Judge Donald Jackson Suspended with Pay, Already Under Indictment The Judicial Commission has stopped Judge Jackson from…


Judge Watch: Trial of CCA Chief Justice Sharon Keller Starts Today and Protesters are Ready

This morning, the trial of Chief Justice Sharon Keller started down in San Antonio.  It’s reported she got there early – about 45 minutes before the 9:30 proceedings were scheduled to begin. Meanwhile, the Texas Moratorium Network posted a notice on its website that it’s planning on having around 1900 protesters in front of the…


JUDGE WATCH: Justice Keller Trial Set to Start August 17 in San Antonio, Civil Trial Judge Berchelman Presiding

It’s going to be hard to get a parking space around the Bexar County Courthouse in San Antonio later this month — because starting August 17th, the impeachment trial of Justice Sharon Keller will begin in the courtroom of State District Court Judge David Berchelmann Jr. A State Civil District Judge Will Preside Over the…


JUDGE WATCH: Corpus Christi Judge Banales Asked to Be Removed From Case of Big Campaign Supporter

Just last week, we pointed to the new U.S. Supreme Court case that dealt with campaign contributions and judges across the country – with a warning that the judiciary was to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. And we predicted lots of activity based upon this new precedent. And here it comes …. Less than…


COURT OPINIONS: US Supreme Court Nixes Judges Accepting Big Campaign Donations Due to Appearance of Bias

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Caperton v. Massey (read the opinion here) came down yesterday, and we’ll have to see how much it impacts Texas Judges — and how often they recuse themselves from cases. Texas Judges Run for Office: They Kiss Babies and Take Contributions In Texas, judges run for office. (The federal…


JUDGE WATCH: Houston Judge Caught on Video Allegedly Keying Neighbor’s Car Now Subject of Grand Jury Felony Investigation

Down in Houston, the Grand Jury is watching the video below, as well as other evidence, to decide whether or not felony criminal charges should be filed against retired visiting judge Woody Densen.Seems Judge Densen may have vandalized his neighbor’s Range Rover (as well as the neighbor’s girlfriend’s Mercedes). And the neighbor was on the…