home

TX Ethics Commission Absolves Judge Sharon Keller

By Jeralyn, Section Misconduct
Posted on Wed Jan 20, 2010 at 09:54:54 PM EST
Tags: Judge Sharon Keller (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct issued these factual findings (pdf) today in the case of Judge Sharon Keller, presiding judge the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, who in 2007 closed the doors of the clerk's office to the Texas Courthouse at 5:00 pm, knowing a last minute death penalty stay was en route to be filed.

The Commission found her actions, while amounting to bad judgment, were "not nefarious." It says she acted within her discretion and that her actions did not amount to willful or purposeful incompetence.

Unbelievably (or maybe not, considering its coming from the Texecution capital of the world) the opinion blames the defense.

< Wednesday Night Open Thread | New Revelation in Polanksi Sentencing in Absentia Pleading >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    TX Ethics Commission Absolves Judge Sharon Keller | 6 comments (6 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    As a Texan (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by McKinless on Wed Jan 20, 2010 at 10:51:17 PM EST
    I am embarrassed. But then I've gotten used to that.

    Reminds me of a political cartoon from the Kent State massacre days. Has the foreman reading, "We the grand jury find the students negligent in placing their bodies in the path of the National Guard bullets."

    wait ... (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by nyrias on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:18:05 AM EST
    while the judge is certainly not going out of her way to be accommodating, it is certainly within her discretion to close that office. Note that they said it is a decision to close the clerk's office, and not the court.

    Plus, for something this serious, I would imagine the defense should work harder and have paper work ready WAY BEFORE the actual deadline.

    It is encumbered upon the defense to file the right paper work before the deadline, is it not? It is not like they do not know of the deadline. Why would they count on the court/clerk office to be open passed the usual hours, even when it is customary, when their client's life is on the line?

    BTW, the executed was a rapist and a murderer. I am not feeling sorry for him.

    I miss Ann Richards (none / 0) (#2)
    by txpolitico67 on Wed Jan 20, 2010 at 11:08:39 PM EST
    so much!

    I miss Molly (none / 0) (#6)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:24:02 AM EST
    Ivins more.

    Parent
    Why did (none / 0) (#3)
    by jbindc on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 07:34:06 AM EST
    the defense wait so long?  Is that standard procedure?

    Judge Keller showed so much contempt toward (none / 0) (#4)
    by Angel on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 07:56:27 AM EST
    the defense and the man who was executed that it was sickening. I disagree with the judicial findings but am not surprised.

    TX Ethics Commission Absolves Judge Sharon Keller | 6 comments (6 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment