Justice Robert D. Burns. (Courtesy photo) Special Review Court: Judge's Comment That Defendant 'Should Die in a Locked Closet' Did Not Violate Judicial Canons
"Although we recognize that Judge Burns's comment was intemperate and regrettable, we find that it was an isolated and unplanned statement that was not intended to degrade the defendant. At best, the comment reflected a momentary 'error of judgment' rather than gross indifference, intentionality, or moral turpitude that would rise to the level of a sanctionable Canon 3(B)(4) violation," the review panel said.
December 07, 2022 at 08:02 PM
5 minute read
A three-judge panel of the Special Court of Review dismissed a public admonition against a former criminal judge—now chief justice Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals—who told a convicted defendant that he "should die in a locked closet."
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