Opinion ID: 2104596
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Denial of Opportunity to Make Oral Argument Before Commission

Text: In Point of Error No. Four on Rehearing, Respondent contends that his due process rights have been violated since he was denied the opportunity to make an oral argument before the Commission regarding the constitutional issues addressed above. We disagree. Absent a statement of objections to the report of the Special Master, the Commission may adopt the findings of fact of the Special Master as its own. In re Thoma, 873 S.W.2d 477, 485 (Tex.Rev.Trib.1994, no appeal); Tex.R. Rem'l/Ret. Judg., Rule 10(j). The findings of the Special Master, as adopted by the Commission, are tantamount to findings of fact filed by a trial judge in a trial without a jury, and as a result, are reviewed in that light. Thoma, 873 S.W.2d at 485. In the instant case, Respondent did in fact file objections to that report. If a statement of objections is filed, the Commission shall give the judge and the examiner the opportunity to be heard orally before the Commission. Tex.R. Rem'l/Ret. Judg., Rule 10(j) (emphasis supplied). The record in the instant case demonstrates that upon proper supplementation, this Review Tribunal abated and remanded the cause to the Commission for entry of supplemental findings of fact and conclusions of law. No findings of fact were made by the Special Master or the Commission as to the constitutional issue complained of on review, nor were any requested. The Commission did however make its Supplemental Conclusion of Law No. Eight, noting that Judge Barr has been accorded due process of law under the United States and Texas Constitutions, Chapter 33 of the Texas Government Code, and the Procedural Rules for the Removal or Retirement of Judges. The extensive record in the instant case includes a reporter's record, both on original submission and on supplementation. As noted, we review the Commission's adopted findings of fact 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. Thoma, 873 S.W.2d at 485. If the Commission's adopted findings of fact are supported by the evidence, given the standards set forth above, they are binding on this Review Tribunal. See County of El Paso v. Ortega, 847 S.W.2d 436, 441 (Tex. App.-El Paso 1993, no writ). On the other hand, this Review Tribunal's review of the Commission's Conclusions of Law are reviewable de novo. Mercer v. Bludworth, 715 S.W.2d 693, 697 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.). We have once again reviewed the entire record in the instant case, both on original submission and on subsequent supplementation, and find that Respondent was not entitled to present oral argument before the Commission regarding the constitutional issues presented, since no findings of fact were made by the Special Master as to the complained-of issue, or later by the Commission. Respondent's complaint is, in actuality, directed to the Commission's Supplemental Conclusion of Law No. Eight, which is reviewable de novo by this Review Tribunal in any event. Given our disposition of Respondent's constitutional issues, Respondent's Point of Error No. Four on Rehearing is overruled. Respondent's Motion for Rehearing is overruled in its entirety.