The Austin American-Statesman's Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist has this toon in today's Statesman.
It accompanies the editorial, "Justice in Texas? Not on her watch."
Last week, Keller’s “We close at 5” response resulted in an ethics complaint filed with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct by 19 Texas lawyers. The complaint came from some highly respected attorneys, including Austin lawyers James George Jr., Broadus Spivey and Chuck Herring Jr.
They are asking the commission to remove Keller from office, or otherwise discipline her, for violating the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct. The complaints are firmly grounded and the commission should give them careful consideration.
The judicial canons themselves are subjective - judges must preserve the integrity of the judiciary and promote public confidence in judicial integrity, for instance. Most lawyers can argue about that wording as long as they can draw breath.
But whatever the commission decides, it is abundantly clear that Keller and her court have been more concerned with process than justice. They have repeatedly ignored the fundamental right of a defendant to competent counsel. Reporting by the American-Statesman’s Chuck Lindell has highlighted the court’s indifference to glaringly inept defense attorneys in capital cases.
Keller’s coldblooded response in the Richard case may have been the last straw that prompted the ethical complaint, but the appeals court has been grating on legal sensibilities for years.
Finally, an important part of the legal community said it has had enough and moved to have Keller disciplined, and possibly removed from the bench. That is an important step in guarding the integrity of criminal justice in Texas.
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