DEMS: HONOR THE JUDICIARY, BUT ONLY THE DEM JUDGES

By Juan Montoya
Look at the invitation to the Sept. 3 fundraiser for Democratic party Texas Lt. Governor Leticia De Putte scheduled to be held at the Historic Brownsville Museum.
The invite combines the fundraiser for De Putte with a "Night Honoring The Cameron County Judiciary" as well.
But hold on!
There appears to be an oversight. There are only seven of the eight district judges listed on the invite by the Cameron County Democratic Party. The 357th District Court Judge Oscar X. Garcia is missing.
The 103rd District Judge Janet Leal is there.
So is 107th District Judge Benjamin Euresti.
Ditto for 138th District Judge Migdalia Lopez.
404th District Judge Elia Cornejo Lopez is also there.
44th District Judge David Sanchez is listed also, as is 445th District Court Judge Rolando Olvera.
So why was Garcia left out? A simple oversight?
Or is it perhaps because Garcia is the Republican candidate for the 357th against former Democratic Party chairman and 357th Demo Party candidate Juan Magallanes?
So this "honor" or "fundraiser" is really a blatantly partisan event which allows the Cameron County Democratic Party to use the prestige of the district judges' office and position to promote  one of their political candidates?
And while we're at it, aren't the three County Court-at-Law judges – Artutro McDonald, Laura Betancourt and David Gonzales III – also doing the same thing when they lend themselves to this type of affair?
We always thought that the Code of Judicial Conduct strictly forbids this type of political pandering and use of the political office for partisan politics.
And this is not a man-on-the-street event.
The Gold Sponsors are expected to plunk down $5,000 to help out Leticia. The Silver Sponsor is asked for $2,500 and the lowly Bronze Sponsor a mere $1,000. Individual tickets are $100 a pop.
"All proceeds to fund the get out the vote campaign," the invite states. Is this for Democrats and Republicans, or just for Democrats?
Now, we don't know whether Democratic Party Chair Amber Medina is aware of the restriction on partisan politics by judges on behalf of any candidates, so we looked up the applicable law and found this:
Canon 5: (2) A judge or judicial candidate shall not authorize the public use of his or her name endorsing another candidate for any public office, except that either may indicate support for a political party. A judge or judicial candidate may attend political events and express his or her views on political matters in accord with this Canon and Canon 3B(10).
Is the Cameron County Democratic Party skirting the gray areas of the law here? Or is this a cute way to get around the law?