Austin Judge Who Protested Kavanaugh Confirmation Receives Judicial Reprimand
"I strongly felt, and continue to feel, that the Supreme Court and our entire judiciary has been besmirched and that I had a personal obligation to show my disapproval," Travis County Court-at-Law No. 3 Judge John Lipscombe told the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct.
August 30, 2019 at 03:47 PM
4 minute read
The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct has sanctioned an Austin misdemeanor judge who protested U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the bench by closing his courtroom and draping a black cloth over its door.
In a public reprimand announced Thursday, the commission found that Travis County Court-at-Law No. 3 Judge John Lipscombe allowed partisan interests and public clamor to influence him, and his actions cast public discredit on the judiciary.
According to the reprimand, in early October 2018, Lipscombe closed his court and draped black fabric over its doors. Local media reported he did it "as a form of silent protest after Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice." The judge told a reporter that the justice's confirmation was a "big step back for this country," and disrespectful to women and men.
In response to a judicial conduct complaint, Lipscombe confirmed to the commission that he talked to a reporter about Kavanaugh's disrespect toward women who were sexually assaulted, his disrespect toward the Senate Committee, and his lack of judicial temperament and questionable character.
Lipscombe told the commission that after watching Kavanaugh's confirmation process, he was disgusted and concerned for the U.S. Supreme Court's future because of Kavanaugh's character and conduct.
"I strongly felt, and continue to feel, that the Supreme Court and our entire judiciary has been besmirched and that I had a personal obligation to show my disapproval and demonstrate my utmost respect for the judiciary and my dedication to our constitution and its principles of fairness and justice," Lipscombe said, according to the reprimand.
Read the whole reprimand:
The commission on Thursday also announced sanctions against a municipal court judge and two justices of the peace in small Texas communities.
Breckenridge Municipal Court Judge Kim Baggett received a public warning and order of additional education for refusing a defendant copies of his court files, including his charging documents, unless he first entered a plea in his cases. Texas law says the public has a right to judicial records. Baggett broke rules that require judges to comply with the law, be competent in the law, and be patient, dignified and courteous to litigants and others who appear in court, the warning said.
Former Shelby County Justice of the Peace Pct. 5 Judge Michael Crouch received a public admonition for his handling of a small claims case between a woman and a mechanic, whom the judge knew. The commission found that Crouch failed to follow the law and maintain competence in the law by failing to timely file citation of the woman's complaint. The delay in citation stopped the woman from having an opportunity to be heard. The judge allowed his friendship with the mechanic to influence his judicial conduct or judgment, the admonition said.
Llano County Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Judge Beatrice "Bebe" Rocha received a public admonition and order of additional education. Rocha and her husband were getting divorced, and her husband had a female "house sitter" who had been arrested for a DWI. In a series of phone calls, Rocha identified herself as a justice of the peace and spoke with people about the woman's DWI case status, and the woman's minor children, among other things. Appearing before the commission, Rocha admitted to using the prestige of her judicial office to advance her private interests, the admonition said.
Rocha declined to comment.
Lipscombe and Baggett each didn't return a message seeking comment before deadline. Texas Lawyer was unable to find a phone number for Crouch, who's no longer in office.
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