Category Archives: Judge Watch

Showdown in Austin This Friday for CCA Chief Justice Sharon Keller

Set back in March, the time has come. This Friday, June 18, 2010, in Austin, Texas, the hearing begins for Chief Justice Sharon Keller before the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct. Sharon Keller Following the Best Defense is a Good Offense Approach Keller’s response can be read online in two parts (Part One; Part Two)…


Sharon Keller, Chief Justice of the Highest Texas Criminal Court, Gets Highest Ethics Fine in Texas History

Late last week, the Texas Ethics Commission officially fined the Chief Justice of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals $100,000 — making history as the highest fine ever issued by the TEC since it began.   Seems the TEC found that Justice Keller’s omissions from her disclosure statements were pretty darn serious. The basis of this…


U.S. Supreme Court Finds Judge – DA Love Affair During Murder Trial Isn’t Worth Their Time. What? Really?

The good news for Charles Dean Hood is that he’s still going to get another bite at the apple on his sentence.  The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has already ruled that another sentencing trial will happen for Mr. Hood. Charles Dean Hood Is Snubbed by the United States Supreme Court – They Don’t Do…


Texas Judges Gets Busted for DWI – Cops Use New 2009 Blood Test Law

It was really early on Saturday morning after an obviously long Friday night when Mercedes municipal judge Rogelio Garcia was pulled over by a DPS Trooper in Harlingen (near the Valle Vista Mall, if you know the place).  The usual procedure followed. Perceiving the driver to be “highly intoxicated,” the Trooper requested the driver to…


Texas Trial Judge Kevin Fine Gets Lotsa Media Play Over Death Penalty Ruling

Last week, over in Houston, a state district court judge (read that, trial judge) who’s still pretty new to the job, ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional.  This got lots and lots and LOTS of media coverage. This week, Judge Kevin Fine changed his mind.  He’s rescinded that ruling and he’s set the matter…


Another Texas District Judge Indicted on Felony Charges and Jailed on Friday

Last September, everyone in Kerrville was surprised when District Judge Karl Prohl suddenly resigned from the bench, with more than a year left in his term.  The Kerrville Daily Times reported on how Judge Prohl’s letter of resignation — effective immediately — shocked the courthouse.  One staffer supposed that at the age of 69, and…


Former El Paso Criminal Judge Manuel Barraza Found Guilty by Jury – Going to Jail

Late last week, a federal jury came back with their verdict in the case of the United States v. Manny Barraza over in El Paso.  The verdict?  Former Criminal District Court Judge Manuel Joseph Barraza was guilty of two (2) counts of wire fraud and the deprivation of honest services and one (1) count of…


Behind Closed Doors, Things Heating Up For CCA Chief Justice Sharon Keller

While the chief justice of the highest criminal court in the State of Texas continues her work from the bench, it appears that lots of other folk are working hard behind the scenes, too — especially now that we’ve got the findings from Judge David Berchelmann for everyone to view. Tomorrow would have been the…


Judge Watch: FBI and Texas Rangers Arrest Another Texas Judge

Last Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Rangers continued their state-wide clean up of the Texas judicial system as Texas authorities arrested Athens, Texas municipal judge Monica Corker for the charge of Abuse of Official Capacity.    Working with the federal law enforcement experts, the local District Attorney’s office with the County Sheriff took Judge…


Judge Watch: Federal Trial of Judge Barraza Gets Moved to January Right Before Jury Selection

Back in April, we wrote about the shocking fall from grace of Judge Manuel Barraza, as he was arrested in El Paso by federal authorities on charges of taking bribes and other bad things.  And now just as the federal trial was about to begin where Judge Manuel Barraza is being tried for fraud everything stops.  Why? …