IS JUDGE GABY SKIRTING THE LAW ON BROTHER'S CAMPAIGN?

 Judicial 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."

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

You would think that after several local judges have ben admonished by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct for endorsing – much less openly campaign for a candidate – that our judicial community would think twice about going door to door for a candidate for another position.

The last judge from Cameron County to be admonished was Judge Juan Magallanes of the 357th District Court for his endorsement of Democratic Congressional Candidate Dan Sanchez in the special election for Congressional District 34 that occurred on June 14, 2022. 

The commission's letter of admonishment stated that: “The judge lent the prestige of judicial office toadvance the interest of and authorizing the public use of the judge’s name and judicial title to endorse a candidate in a special election by hosting a political event and making introductory remarks that a reasonable person, either in attendance at the event or watching a video of the judge’s remarks on social media, would believe was the judge’s public endorsement of the candidate. [Violation of Canons 2B and 5(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.] Private Admonition and Order of Additional Education of a District Court Judge.”

In addition to receiving a private admonition, Magallanes was also ordered to undergo additional education. Although Magallanes is not named on the State Commission on Judicial Conduct's website, The Texas Voice has confirmed that Magallanes is the judge referenced in the disciplinary action handed down by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct on January 3, 2023.

But as you can see in the recording from a door doorbell camera and the photo posted on her Facebook page, Judge Gaby Garcia of the 138th District Court didn't get the memo, or doesn't think the law applies to her in campaigning door to door 
for her brother Edie Garcia, currently a Brownsville Independent School District biard member locked in a runoff election for Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector against incumbent Tony Yzaguirre. 

Will this result in a complaint being filed against judge Garcia with the State Commission of Judicial Conduct, too? Or will she see the gathering storm, repent, and kneel?