It took the Commission over 2 years to ” investigate” this complaint. I don’t know what they did that took two years. What I know they did, took about 20 minutes. Like Earl, I too recieced a call from a Commission staffer. They did not understand that it was illegal for a judge to illegally revoke a presumptively innocent person’s bond. I wish I was kidding, but I am not.

Around two years ago, The Sunset Commission held hearings in Austin regarding the Commission on Judicial Conduct. The leadership(?) and members of the Commision of Judicial Conduct testified. Their Chair took 20 minutes to introduce himself and list his accomplishments.*** He patted himself on the back so hard, I thought he might knock himself down. The Commision on Judicial Conduct was less than cooperative with the Sunset Commision. They invoked attorney-client privilege and refused to cooperate with Sunset Commission investigators. They were so condescending in action, manner and speech that Sunset Commission Senator Whitmire was visibly angered.

Then TCDLA President Gary Trichter, Austin attorney Bennie Ray , then HCCLA President Earl Musick and I also appeared to testify. We testified right after the arrogant display put on by the Commission on Judicial Conduct. We
each testified about the Commision on Judicial Conduct’s failures to carry out it mission.

I recall my own testimony and my primary point. I testified about my experience in participating in filing all of HCCLA’s complaints. I testified that the Commision on Judicial Conduct’s mission was to protect Texans from abusive judges. I noted that the Commission had apparently re-written their mission statement. I said they had taken it upon themselves to protect abusive judges from the Good Citizens of Texans. I said their very existence was misleading to Texans. We were lead to believe someone was protecting us from
Abusive judges when in fact no one was.

Mark, I concluded my testimony by stating that as the Commission on Judicial Conduct was a fraud on the good citizens of Texas, and it should be immediately abolished.

After 2 years, they have thrown us a bone. My position remains the same. They are a fraud and they should be abolished.

In the meantime, let it be known we will NOT retire from this battle with the abusive members of the Judiciary. The Commission may do nothing but we will. HCCLA, joined by TCDLA and the united criminal defense bar, will continue to confront, expose and complain about those judges who act above the law. They are not above the law & they are not the law.

Until they comport their actions with the law, We few will be there. On that, they have my word. Damn all tyrants.

Robb Fickman

**** after watching the Chair of the Commission on Judicial Conduct’s self- introduction I came up with “Fickman’s Maxim on Self- Introductions.” Fickman’s Maxim on Self-Introductions states, ” the longer it takes one to introduce themselves and list their own perceived achievements, the bigger the asshole.”