Opinion ID: 2104596
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Removal from Judicial Office for Persistent Conduct

Text: In the final issue raised within the fourth point of error, Respondent contends that the Commission's conclusions on persistent conduct are each couched in terms of a combination of events, the aggregate of which constitutes persistent conduct. Further, Respondent reasons that if the Review Tribunal sustains any of Respondent's points of error, or portions thereof, then the Tribunal cannot find for removal on the basis of persistent conduct. For the reasons set for below, we agree. The findings of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct on the issue of persistent conduct are as follows: 1. Judge Barr's actions 1) on or about January 24, 1996, in stating to prosecutor [Ms. S.R.] that, I can't believe you just asked that question. I feel like coming across the bench and slapping the crap out of you ...; 2) on or about April 1997, in shouting angrily at Deputies of the Harris County Sheriff's Department; and 3) on or about April 22, 1997, in attempting personally and physically to enforce his order that Mr. Daimon Rainey be immediately released from custody, constitute persistent conduct that was clearly inconsistent with the proper performance of his duties, and violated Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution. 2. Judge Barr's actions 1) on or about January 24, 1996, in stating to prosecutor [Ms. S.R.] that, I can't believe you just asked that question. I feel like coming across the bench and slapping the crap out of you ...; 2) on or about April 1997, in shouting angrily at Deputies of the Harris County Sheriff's Department; and 3) on or about April 22, 1997, in attempting personally and physically to enforce his order that Mr. Daimon Rainey be immediately released from custody, constitute persistent conduct that cast public discredit upon the judiciary or the administration of justice, and violated Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution. 3. Judge Barr's actions 1) on or about January 24, 1996, in stating to prosecutor [Ms. S.R.] that, I can't believe you just asked that question. I feel like coming across the bench and slapping the crap out of you ...; 2) on or about April 1997, in shouting angrily at Deputies of the Harris County Sheriff's Department; and 3) on or about April 22, 1997, in attempting personally and physically to enforce his order that Mr. Daimon Rainey be immediately released from custody, constitute persistent conduct that violated the Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3B(3), which provides, A judge shall require order and decorum in proceedings before the judge. 4. Judge Barr's actions 1) on or about January 24, 1996, in stating to prosecutor [Ms. S.R.] that, I can't believe you just asked that question. I feel like coming across the bench and slapping the crap out of you ...; 2) on or about April 1997, in shouting angrily at Deputies of the Harris County Sheriff's Department; and 3) on or about April 22, 1997, in attempting personally and physically to enforce his order that Mr. Daimon Rainey be immediately released from custody, constitute persistent conduct that violated the Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3B(4), which provides, in pertinent part, A judge shall be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity.... Article V § 1-a(6A) of the Constitution of the State of Texas provides: Any justice or judge of the courts established by the Constitution or created by the Legislature as provided in Section 1, Article V, of this Constitution, may, subject to the other provisions hereof, be removed from office for willful or persistent violation of rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas, incompetence in performing the duties of the office, willful violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct, or willful or persistent conduct that is clearly inconsistent with the proper performance of his duties or casts public discredit upon the judiciary or administration of justice. Tex. Const. art. V, § 1-a(6)A (1993). As applied to the instant case, Respondent may be removed from office for either the willful or persistent violation of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct. The term willful has been exhaustively defined above. Persistent conduct, with respect to judicial disciplinary proceedings, is constant conduct which demonstrates a series of associated efforts and determination and which is insistently repetitive or continuous. It is conduct which is very general in scope in that the conduct need not manifest itself in identical fashion. Persistent conduct need not necessarily be of a long duration, but rather connotes conduct which remains unbroken throughout its entire length, no matter how great. The Commission's adopted findings of fact as to Respondent's persistent conduct are reviewable for legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support them by the same standards applied in reviewing the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting all other findings and conclusions of the Commission in the instant case. We need not recount the entire testimony exhaustively set forth above. We note that we have considered only the evidence that tends to support the Commission's findings of Respondent's persistent conduct, as described above, and have disregarded all evidence and inferences to the contrary. We have previously found the evidence both legally and factually sufficient to support the Commission's findings that Respondent stated to Assistant District Attorney, Ms. S.R. that, I can't believe you just asked that question. I feel like coming across the bench and slapping the crap out of you.... Respondent has confessed as much. However, given the disposition of Respondent's Point of Error No. One, subpoint c, which relates specifically to Behavior Toward Those with Whom a Judge Interacts in a Judicial Capacity, we find that the evidence is legally insufficient to support the Commission's findings of persistent conduct, as specifically alleged above. Respondent's Point of Error No. Four, as to persistent conduct, as alleged, is sustained. 5. Conclusion The Rules for the Removal or Retirement of Judges provide that subsequent to the conclusion of all hearings, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct is to render its decision to dismiss the complaint, publicly censure the judge, or recommend the removal or the retirement of the judge. Tex.R.Rem'l/Ret. Judges, Rule 10(m). Upon making a determination to recommend the removal or retirement of a judge, the Commission is to request the Chief Justice of The Texas Supreme Court to appoint a review tribunal, composed of seven justices, selected by lot from the courts of appeals of our state. Id., Rules 1(h); 11; 12(a). Within 90 days from the date the record is filed with the review tribunal, it shall order public censure, retirement, or removal, as it finds just and proper, or wholly reject the recommendation. Id., Rule 12(h) [emphasis added]. A judge may appeal a decision of the review tribunal to the Texas Supreme Court under the substantial evidence rule. Id., Rule 13. Thus we view the responsibility of this Review Tribunal as two-fold: (1) To review the Commission's adopted findings for legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support them by the same standards applied in reviewing the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting findings in a civil case, either by a trial court or by a jury; (2) Upon review, to order public censure, retirement, or removal, as it finds just and proper, or wholly reject the recommendation. Unlike a judicial disciplinary sanction where the State Commission on Judicial Conduct has determined that an informal sanction is appropriate, (but not a decision to institute formal removal proceedings), review of which is by a special court of review which holds a trial de novo, this Review Tribunal, as noted above, serves as a review authority. Id., Rule 9. Upon finding that the evidence is factually and legally sufficient to support the findings and conclusions of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, or any portions of any such findings and conclusions, this Review Tribunal may reject the recommendation of the Commission that sanctions be imposed. If the recommendation that sanctions are deserving and accepted, this Review Tribunal must order public censure, retirement [if applicable], or removal. Id., Rule 12(h). A Review Tribunal, convened by the Texas Supreme Court for the purpose of reviewing a judicial disciplinary action which includes a recommendation of removal from office, is not bound by the specific recommendations of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, although the specific recommendations are given great deference when based on legally and factually sufficient evidence. A Review Tribunal is vested with discretion to fashion a sanction which is available, as it finds just and proper. This Review Tribunal wholeheartedly adopts the reasoning and language advanced by the Supreme Court of the State of Nebraska in In re Kneifl , wherein that Court discussed the purpose of imposing sanctions for judicial misconduct: The purpose of sanctions in cases of judicial discipline is to preserve the integrity and independence of the judiciary and to restore and reaffirm public confidence in the administration of justice. The discipline we impose must be designed to announce publicly our recognition that there has been misconduct; it must be sufficient to deter respondent from again engaging in such conduct; and it must discourage others from engaging in similar conduct in the future. Thus, we discipline a judge not for purposes of vengeance or retribution, but to instruct the public and all judges, ourselves included, of the importance of the function performed by judges in a free society. We discipline a judge to reassure the public that judicial misconduct is neither permitted nor condoned. In re Kneifl, 217 Neb. 472, 351 N.W.2d 693, 700 (1984). When dealing with judicial misconduct, the sanction or sanctions should fit the offense. In determining the appropriate level of sanction to impose for judge's misconduct, the Review Tribunal is obligated to consider the underlying purpose of judicial discipline, which is to protect not only the third branch of government, but also the sovereign which it serves, i.e., the citizens of the State of Texas, from unacceptable judicial behavior. In adopting the above measure and purpose for the imposition of judicial discipline, we are not oblivious to the fact that a standard may be set for the judiciary that few ordinary citizens of this State can live up to. A citizen who serves as a member of the judiciary of the State of Texas is among a chosen few who no longer enjoys the role of an ordinary citizen. It is for that reason, among others, that a judge who is a standard-bearer of fairness and impartiality in our society is no longer addressed as Ms., Mrs., or Mr., but rather as Your Honor. After careful review, we find that the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support each and every paragraph, charge and item of the findings and conclusions of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, save and except those portions of Respondent's Point of Error No. One which pertain to preventing counsel from approaching the bench, and which pertain to Behavior Toward Those with Whom a Judge Interacts in a Judicial Capacity. As to all other contentions which we have overruled, we find that Respondent has violated Canons 2A, 3B(3), 3B(4) and 3B(8) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Article V, § 1-a(6)A of the Constitution of the State of Texas. Although we have sustained Respondent's challenge to the Commission's findings as to persistent conduct, we note that such error is harmless, given the fact that the Texas Constitution authorizes removal in the instant case for either willful or persistent violation of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct. Tex. Const. art. V, § 1-a(6)A (1993) [emphasis added]. We have found his conduct to be willful, as defined, and in some instances, done in bad faith. We sustain those portions of Respondent's Point of Error No. One which relate to Behavior Toward Those with Whom a Judge Interacts in a Judicial Capacity, and to his preventing counsel from approaching the bench. We further sustain that portion of Respondent's Point of Error No. Four which relates to Respondent's persistent conduct, as alleged. We find any error harmless. We overrule all of Respondent's remaining contentions on review, and affirm the recommendation of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct that Respondent be sanctioned. We accept the recommendation that Respondent, James L. Jim Barr be removed as Judge of the 337th Judicial District Court of the State of Texas, however, we reject that portion of the recommendation which would forever ban Respondent from holding judicial office. JAMES L. JIM BARR IS HEREBY REMOVED AS JUDGE OF THE 337TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.