Opinion ID: 2433128
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Definition of Willful Misconduct

Text: In Point of Error No. Five, Respondent contends that the Commission improperly interpreted the term willful in its findings of fact and conclusions. Specifically, Respondent maintains that the Commission interpreted the definition of willfulness in its broadest terms, finding that Respondent's actions were willful in that he intentionally engaged in such actions. [8] Respondent argues that a judge can be sanctioned only when the actions are done in bad faith or the equivalent, not when they are merely intentional. We note at the outset that Respondent does not challenge as unconstitutionally vague the phrase willful or persistent conduct that is clearly inconsistent with the proper performance of his duties. TEX. CONST. art. V, § 1-a(6)A. Rather, Respondent simply suggests that a mere finding of willful is insufficient, absent a finding of bad faith, and by implication, asserts that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support a finding of willful misconduct. As noted earlier, this proceeding was initiated pursuant to TEX. CONST. art. V, § 1-a. Section 1-a(6) reads in part as follows: (6)A. Any Justice or Judge of the courts established by this 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.... [Emphasis added]. Although Texas courts have previously decided cases using the willful standard provided by Article V, § 1-a of the Constitution, they have never specifically defined the term willful misconduct. In re Davila, 631 S.W.2d 723, 726 (Tex.1982) (twenty-six acts of nepotism and leaving the scene of an accident constitutes willful misconduct); In re Carrillo, 542 S.W.2d 105, 111 (Tex.1976) (misuse of funds by judge constitutes willful misconduct); In re Brown, 512 S.W.2d at 317, 324 (judge willfully committed misconduct by authorizing electronic eavesdropping of an accused defendant and his attorney, but the judge did not engage in willful misconduct by being excessively absent, too readily finding persons in contempt of court, lecturing the county and district attorneys concerning the conduct of their offices, and conducting hearings in the absence of the accused person's counsel). It is well established that a reasonable construction should be given constitutional provisions, and a provision will not be construed so as to lead to absurd conclusions, great public inconvenience or unjust discrimination, if any other interpretation can be reasonably indulged. Railroad Comm'n v. St. Louis Southwestern Ry. Co., 443 S.W.2d 71, 74 (Tex.Civ.App.Austin 1969, writ ref'd n.r.e.) citing Cramer v. Sheppard, 140 Tex. 271, 167 S.W.2d 147 (1942). Furthermore, when the meaning of a written law is doubtful, it should have that construction that seems best calculated to promote the public interest, upon the theory that its framers so intended. State v. De Gress, 72 Tex. 242, 11 S.W. 1029, 1030 (1888). It is within these confines that we determine the definition of the term willful, as applied to the facts of the instant case. Respondent, relying on authorities from other jurisdictions, contends that a judge can be sanctioned for acting willfully only when it is shown that the judge has acted in bad faith or the equivalence thereof. [9] In re Sheffield, 465 So.2d 350, 357 (Ala.1984); In re Haddad, 128 Ariz. 490, 627 P.2d 221, 228 (1981); Gubler v. Comm'n on Judicial Performance, 37 Cal.3d 27, 207 Cal.Rptr. 171, 182, 688 P.2d 551, 562 (1984); Wenger v. Comm'n on Judicial Performance, 29 Cal.3d 615, 175 Cal. Rptr. 420, 630 P.2d 954, 957, n. 4 (1981); Spruance v. Comm'n on Judicial Qualifications, 13 Cal.3d 778, 119 Cal.Rptr. 841, 532 P.2d 1209, 1221 (1975); Nicholson v. Judicial Retirement and Removal Comm'n, 562 S.W.2d 306, 310 (Ky.1978); In re Inquiry Concerning Garner, 466 So.2d 884 (Miss. 1985); In re Kelly, 225 Neb. 583, 407 N.W.2d 182, 185-86 (1987); In re Nowell, 293 N.C. 235, 237 S.E.2d 246, 255 (1977); In re Edens, 290 N.C. 299, 226 S.E.2d 5, 9 (1976); In re Complaint of Gustafson, 305 Or. 655, 756 P.2d 21, 24 (Or.1988). We agree with Respondent to the extent that the term willful, as applied in TEX. CONST. art. V, § 1-a(6)A, requires a showing, but not necessarily a finding, of bad faith. See In re Kelly, 407 N.W.2d at 182. Moreover, we specifically hold that the term willful, as applied in TEX. CONST. art. V, § 1-a(6)A, is the improper or wrongful use of the power of his office by a judge acting intentionally, or with gross indifference to his conduct. It involves more than an error of judgment or a mere lack of diligence. Necessarily, the term would encompass conduct involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, corruption, misuse of office, or bad faith generally, whatever the motive. A specific intent to use the powers of the judicial office to accomplish a purpose which the judge knew or should have known was beyond the legitimate exercise of his authority may in and of itself constitute bad faith. See generally In re Nowell, 293 N.C. 235, 237 S.E.2d 246, 255 (1977); In re Edens, 226 S.E.2d at 5, 9; Spruance, 119 Cal.Rptr. at 841, 843, 532 P.2d at 1209, 1221; Geiler v. Comm'n on Judicial Qualifications, 110 Cal. Rptr. at 211, 515 P.2d at 11; In re Haggerty, 257 La. 1, 39, 241 So.2d 469, 478 (1970). We now apply the above definition of willful in considering Respondent's remaining points of error asserting by implication that the evidence is insufficient to support the Commission's finding of willful or persistent conduct that is clearly inconsistent with the proper performance of Respondent's duties.