Opinion ID: 1760996
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Custom In Duval County Is Irrelevant

Text: Judge Carrillo complains that the Commission's rejection of the Master's specific findings as to customary use of Duval County employees and equipment by prominent ranchers was unsupported by the evidence. In this connection Judge Carrillo apparently deems the findings of the Master as exculpatory and therefore relevant to a judgment concerning his own misconduct. After his findings under charge IV that Judge Carrillo had wrongfully used a county employee and county equipment on his own ranch, the Master continued: I further find that it was common and accepted practice for politically influential ranch owners in Duval County to use county employees and county equipment to work on their ranches. Similar findings were made with respect to Judge Carrillo's misconduct under charges V, V-A, and VI as being in accordance with custom and common practice in Duval County. The record supports these findings, but they are relevant only to the extent of showing that disrespect for the law in Duval County has been condoned rather than condemned by Judge Carrillo. The laws of Texas forbidding persons from using county employees and equipment for their own private benefit are applicable to Duval County whether or not they are applied or enforced by local officials. The unlawful conduct of Judge Carrillo was not excused because other citizens of Duval County may have engaged in the same practice.