Commission: Judge Violated Code Of Conduct
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Commission: Judge Violated Code Of Conduct
A Central Texas municipal judge has been given a public admonition over a disputed court proceeding
Reporter: By Eli Ross
Email Address: eli.ross@kwtx.com
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(September 9, 2008) - A Texas judicial commission is questioning the professional competence of a Central Texas Municipal Judge following a disputed court proceeding.

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued the Public Admonition and Order of Additional Education against Marlin Municipal Court Judge Lynda Lawless this summer.

In its ruling, The Commission writes, "the Commission concludes based on the facts and evidence before it that Judge Lawless failed to comply with the law and demonstrated a fundamental lack of professional competence in the law."

The ruling lays out seven instances where it found Lawless violated canons of Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.

Including:
A. Conducting proceedings without a prosecutor
B. Conducting proceedings over the telephone and without a prosecutor
C. Discussing the merits of cases with complaining witnesses outside the presence of the defendant and/or a prosecutor
D. Issuing capias pro fine warrants without a judgment against the defendant
E. Coercing the defendant to pay all fines instanter with the threat of arrest and jail for entering a plea of not guilty.
F. Failing to announce or render her judgments in open court
G. Failing to reduce her judgments to writing.

The Commission ordered Judge Lawless to obtain four hours of instruction in the areas of appearance bonds, warrants, class C misdemeanor pre-trial and trial procedures, and record keeping.

Lawless told News 10 on Tuesday night she accepts The Commission's findings, but insists all of this isn't totally her fault.

Latest Comments

Posted by: MeMe Location: Waco, Texas on Sep 12, 2008 at 03:31 PM

Well what do you expect?? This is Marlin we are talkin about. Most {or all} of Marlin's law enforcement in crooked and don't follow the rules. They apply how they feel to the situation, and not whats right. And.. why does she have the right to continue to hold a position in which she violated so many times?? If she went to school for a certain period to become a jude, and still screws up, what makes you think 4 hours will fix anything. Ignorant!! All the people are, The people of Marlin need to open their mouths and get something done around that place, New blood, new life, and new opportunities for all. Those folks{ particularly white} really don't care too much any how.
Posted by: a little common sense Location: goes a long way on Sep 12, 2008 at 11:58 AM

well, all i can say (as a court clerk) is she should have known better. someone below said the people working under her were not the "smartest apples in the bunch" well, i dont know them but i can tell you that clerks are not supposed to give legal advice so that may be why they "never have the answers" it is a Judge who takes control of the courtroom, judicial proceedings, AND guess what, they sign off on warrants and judgments too. Marlin might just need a new judge rather than new help for the judge.
Posted by: dude Location: texas on Sep 10, 2008 at 01:00 PM

the name says it all, ( judge lawless ) like hiring a plumber named I.B. LEAKY
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