For a Texas judicial officer, ‘Here comes the Judge’ certainly has more funk and lurid meaning to it than the 1960’s musical comedy song and losing her seat could be the result. According to the Dallas News, Harris County justice of the peace Hilary Green, exchanged sexually laced texts, and photos with her bailiff and used marijuana and ecstasy with her lover. Should the judge, a democrat, be booted off the bench?
Judge Green, was overwhelmingly re-elected in November as a justice of the peace, in an office she has held since 2007. The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct which has the responsibility for disciplining judges is insisting that the Texas Supreme Court suspend the judge based upon her admitted use of marijuana and ecstasy, as well as sexting.
The highly questionable judicial behavior seemed to have originated from declarations by her ex-husband and former Houston city controller Ronald Green and a boyfriend named Claude Barnes, reported the Dallas News.
It appears that Judge Green was reported to have been a longtime drug addict, according to statements presented by her former husband Ronald Green in 2015 divorce filings. In addition, he stated that she had ongoing sexual relationships with “litigants and witnesses’ according to the Houston Chronicle.
The tangled behavior of the justice of the peace was affirmed by her boyfriend Claude Barnes. Barnes explained to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct that the judge and he had taken marijuana and consumed ecstasy. In addition, he alleged that one of her court officers had taken marijuana from a defendant and given it to her as well as paid for prostitutes on two occasions.
The judge has a defense and it appears to be based on a rather morally shaky but legally predictable grounds. Her attorney Chip Babcock, to the Courtroom News Service that she could not fire the bailiff who she exchanged sexual texts and nude photos with and therefore has no control over him.
Incidentally, that same bailiff is still currently assigned to Judge Green’s courtroom. Babcock also indicated that based upon Texas state law, an officer of the court could not be removed for an act committed before the officer is elected. Since the judge’s actions are alleged to have occurred before the November 2016 election, she and he believe she should remain on the bench, tarnished behavior and all.
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