Opinion ID: 1755033
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the bar from forever holding judicial office

Text: The majority has correctly determined there is no legal impediment to either the Commission's recommendation of prohibition or the tribunal's order of prohibition. The majority also acknowledges we are not directed by clear constitutional or statutory mandate as to the factors we should consider in reaching our decision, nor do we have the benefit of accumulated judicial interpretations. The majority then goes on to review the actions of Judge Lowery to justify the order forever barring him from holding judicial office. While the majority discussed the general issue of disenfranchising the voters, they do not weigh this disenfranchisement in the instant case. Consequently, this tribunal, in a well-intended desire to appropriately punish Judge Lowery should not rush to disenfranchise the voters of Precinct 2 in Dallas County by deciding who is and is not eligible for office [1] and who they cannot elect as a judge in the future. If there are no guidelines or directions as to what are the proper factors to consider in making this decision, perhaps Judge Lowery's misconduct should be measured against that of others who have received a range of sanctions from reprimands to removal and prohibition from holding future judicial office. See and compare, In re Bell, 894 S.W.2d 119, 131 (Tex.Spec.Ct.Rev.1995) (two violations of canons in contempt proceeding; public admonition upheld); In re Thoma, 873 S.W.2d 477, 483, 513 (Tex.Rev.Trib.1994, no appeal) (conspiring to extort money from a party in an action over which he exercised authority, engaging in ex parte communications with criminal defendants in numerous cases, and conducting ex parte proceedings in numerous cases; removal and prohibition from holding future judicial office upheld); In re Sheppard, 815 S.W.2d 917, 921 (Tex.Spec.Ct.Rev.1991) (shouting match with store personnel; public reprimand upheld); In the Matter of Davila, 631 S.W.2d 723, 725-26 (Tex. 1982) (twenty-six acts of nepotism, leaving the scene of an accident; removal and prohibition from holding future judicial office not upheld). While Judge Lowery's action in asking Judge Forman to falsify the report to the commission is egregious and can not be justified, this conduct falls between the conduct of Judge Davila and Judge Thoma. Therefore, if a remand is not an option, I would affirm the commission's recommendation to remove Judge Lowery from office, but would leave it to the wisdom of future voters whether Judge Lowery's past actions and future actions, disqualify him from further judicial service