There’s some sobering reading in Jennifer Emily’s story today about felony probationers in Dallas courts who have gone unpunished despite flunking repeated drug and alcohol tests.
Jen reports that judges have ordered an audit of current cases to determine how many violations have gone unreported by county probation … [visit site to read more]
An audit of the county’s probation files will soon be underway after a judge discovered repeated drug and alcohol violations by her probationers weren’t being reported to her.
State District Judge Tracy Holmes has so far discovered 34 probationers in her court had such repeated violations and she was never informed. One man on probation for his third DWI tested positive for alcohol 30 times and she said that she was never told.
Concern that this might not be an isolated problem has led … [visit site to read more]
Former Dallas County Constable Jaime Cortes testified in December 2012. That trial ended with a hung jury that split 11-1 in favor of guilt.
Former Dallas County Precinct 5 Constable Jaime Cortes admitted Monday in court to falsifying his campaign finance records in exchange for a probation that will leave him without a criminal conviction.
State District Judge Jeanine Howard place Cortes on deferred adjudication probation for one year on a misdemeanor charge of tampering with a government record. Deferred adjudication means the judge is delaying judgment until Cortes meets the terms of his probation. If Cortes does not, he could face jail time.
Cortes, who resigned from office, was originally charged with felony tampering with a government records.
… [visit site to read more]
“Sometimes the court has mercy. Sometimes it doesn’t.”
– State District Judge Jeanine Howard to a man with drug problems as he stood before her bench in felony court. Whether she was merciful to him depends on where you stood. She could have looked him up. She sent him to an in-patient drug treatment program. He wanted to remain … [visit site to read more]
Craig Watkins was held in contempt of court March 7 after refusing to testify at a hearing looking into allegations of misconduct against him by oil family heir Al Hill III.
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkisn visits with reporters after being acquitted of contempt charges. (Louis DeLuca/Staff photographer)
Update 12:49 p.m.: Defense attorney Tom Nowak, … [visit site to read more]
State District Judge Mike Snipes signed an order Wednesday that all preliminary pre-trial motions in the capital murder case against former Kaufman County justice of the peace must be filed by Nov. 4.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams (center), who is accused of killing the Kaufman County district attorney, his wife and a top assistant. (Louis DeLuca/Staff Photographer)
Update Aug, 29: Yesterday, I told you that a filing by the DA’s office in the Hill appeal contained a quote from Mark Twain. But I didn’t blog the quote.
This is the quote attributed to Twain the state’s filing: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
Our friends over at Unfair Park say “that phrase was … [visit site to read more]
State District Judge Susan Hawk has resigned to run for Dallas County District Attorney.
But her bench won’t be empty until Gov. Rick Perry appoints a replacement for the 291st District Court.visit site to read more]
State District Judge Susan Hawk just announced Wednesday that she is leaving the bench to run for Dallas County District Attorney.
The race to replace her is getting crowded.
Susan Hawk
State District Judge Lena Levario answers questions from attorney Ron Poole during a July 15 hearing regarding a contempt citation against Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins. (Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer)
Interested in what really happens in the courtroom?
State District Judge Andy Chatham
Gov. Rick Perry appointed Mary Murphy as presiding judge of the First Judicial Administrative Region.
She will oversee 34 counties, including Dallas County.
Among Murphy’s responsibilities will be hearing motions to recuse judges or … [visit site to read more]
A Dallas County jury Thursday convicted a 19-year-old man of capital murder in the beating death of his girlfriend’s toddler.
State District Judge Robert Burns sentenced Alex Roberson to an automatic sentence of life without parole in the murder of 20-month of Trey Jenkins.
The injuries that killed Trey indicated he suffered a brutal beating in July 2012.
Whether he is or he isn’t, it’s all the courthouse is talking about. That, and his visit site to read more]
For years, probably decades, the cases of defendants in the Dallas County Jail have gotten precedence in the courts because it saved the county money by sending them to prison, probation or acquitting … [visit site to read more]
Jennifer Balido
This post has been updated.
Gov. Rick Perry Monday appointed defense attorney Jennifer Balido to the state district … [visit site to read more]
State District Judge Rick Magnis swears in Jennifer Balido as state district judge of the 291st District Court on Monday. (Jennifer Emily)
Jennifer Balido was sworn in Monday as … [visit site to read more]
Thomas Corea (Dallas County Jail)
A disbarred civil attorney accused of stealing from dozens of … [visit site to read more]
State District Judge Larry Mitchell raised the bond Wednesday for a man accused of shooting an 8-year-old boy in the face in September.
Brian Cloninger, 46, must pay $1 million cash or a $5 million bond if he uses a bail bondsman.visit site to read more]
State District Judge Mark Stoltz will not seek re-election.
State District Judge Mark Stoltz
Stoltz had been seeking a third term on his Dallas County felony … [visit site to read more]
Thomas Corea was sentenced to 25 years in prison. (Dallas County Jail)
State District Judge Mike Snipes Thursday … [visit site to read more]
Testimony is underway in the punishment phase of the trial for the man who killed an elderly Garland convenience store clerk by setting her on fire.
Dallas County prosecutors are asking jurors for a death sentence for Matthew Lee Johnson, saying in opening argument that they will prove he is a continued threat and there is nothing about him that mitigates a sentence of life without parole.
Nancy Harris (Garland Police)
While a jury deliberates in one death penalty case, testimony continues in another courtroom for a second man facing a possible death sentence.visit site to read more]
A Dallas County jury is expected to begin deliberations Friday about whether a man who killed a 16-year-old girl who accused him of rape will be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.
Franklin Davis
Update: The jury has not yet reached a verdict and will be sequestered overnight at a hotel.
The jurors will return to resume deliberations Saturday morning.
Original post: A Dallas County jury is deliberating the fate of a man who killed his children’s 16-year-old babysitter after she accused him of rape.visit site to read more]
Update: Defense attorneys William Barr and Anthony Eiland have filed to run for the 265th District Court as a Democrat.
Prosecutor Amber Givens is running for the 282nd as a Democrat.
Collin County prosecutor Janet Cook is running for the 292nd as a Republican.
Defense attorney visit site to read more]
The Supreme Court of Texas appointed Douglas S. Lang to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the commission announced Tuesday.
5th Court of Appeals in Dallas Justice Douglas S. Lang has served as a justice on the 5th District Court of Appeals in Dallas since 2002.
Update 2 p.m.: Ted Steinke, an attorney for Cortez’ girlfriend said Monday that Cortez’ contention that he was saving the woman’s life is “laughable.”
Steinke said: “My client is cooperating fully with the authorities, and because we have faith in the system, we are willing to let the legal process take its course. For that reason, she will make no public statement at this time. However, regarding his attorney’s laughable assertion that the Judge actually saved the … [visit site to read more]
A Grand Prairie teenager who killed and mutilated a neighbor’s cat pleaded guilty Monday morning to animal cruelty as jury selection was about to begin at his trial.
Oscar Vega
Cortez
Dallas County state district judge Carlos Cortez was scheduled to be back on the bench Monday for the first time since he was arrested for visit site to read more]
Update: The hearing has been rescheduled for a later date at the request of attorneys for Cortez. They anticipate filing additional motions that could require another hearing and could involve repetitive testimony or evidence.
The protective order for Cortez’ girlfriend, Maggie Strother, 26, remains in place.
Cortez was briefly in the courtroom and sat next to his attorney, Pete Schulte.
Cortez, his attorneys and prosecutors Kendall Castello and Carla Bean left without … [visit site to read more]
Attorneys for Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins and oil family heir Al Hill III are once again battling in court.
Craig Watkins was held in contempt of court March 7 after refusing to testify at a hearing looking into allegations of misconduct against him by oil family heir Al Hill III. He was acquitted of contempt in August by another judge who said the hearing should have never been held.
Update at 9:55 a.m.:
State District Judge Mike Snipes will decide at a later date whether Eric Williams’ trial and some parts of jury selection will be delayed.
Williams, wearing chains and an orange jumpsuit, appeared for the first time in a Rockwall court this morning.
His capital murder trial was moved from Kaufman County to Rockwall in January, … [visit site to read more]
There’s no more watched felony court judicial race in the Democratic primary than the battle between state District Judge Lena Levario and her challenger, Dallas County prosecutor Tammy Kemp.
Tammy Kemp
It’s Election Day. Here’s recap of the races for state district judge in the felony courts:
204th District Court:Dallas County prosecutor Tammy Kemp vs. state District Judge Lena Levario
State District Judge Lena Levario
A 27-year-old woman admitted this morning in a Dallas courtroom to drowning her 1-year-old son in a bathtub in September 2012 at the family’s west Oak Cliff apartment.
Chloe Menager (Dallas County Sheriff's office)
Sir Young was 18 and the girl was 14 at the time of the attack.
Update 3:28 p.m.: State District Judge Jeanine Howard gave Sir Young 5 years of deferred adjudication … [visit site to read more]
Sir Young took a seat at the defense table before a hearing Thursday in the court of state District Judge Carter Thompson. (Michael Ainsworth/Staff Photographer)
Update at 10:45 a.m. by Jennifer Emily and Sarah Mervosh:
State District Judge Carter Thompson had stern words of warning Thursday for Sir Young after his decision to reinstate probation restrictions against the admitted rapist.
“Mr. Young, we’ve never met before,” the judge said from the bench.
“No sir,” replied Young from his seat at the defense table.
“Let me tell you what’s expected of you. You have to live up to every condition of probation,” the judge said. If you miss a probation meeting, I’m going to find out about it. If you test positive for drugs, I’m going to find out about it. If you’re in a gang, I’m going to find out about it. If you get arrested again, I’m going to find out about it.
“Your previous court gave you a second chance. Do not expect a third chance from this court.”
A change.org petition is asking for the resignation of a Dallas County judge. They want state District Judge Jeanine Howard to resign after making controversial comments about a rape victim. The petition more than 1,100 signatures.
State District Judge Jeanine Howard
Dallas police officers … [visit site to read more]
Dallas police officers used a sheet to cover the doorway as 2-month-old Justice Hull is removed from a Red Bird apartment on Jan. 26. (Ron Baselice/Staff Photographer)
Updated at 11:28 a.m.:
A Dallas girl who admitted drowning a baby she did not want her mother to adopt was sentenced Friday to 40 years in prison, the maximum punishment. She was 14 when she killed the baby and has since turned 15.
The girl will begin her sentence in state custody with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Before she turns 19, a juvenile court judge will decide whether she will be paroled or serve the remainder of her sentence in adult prison.
In a juvenile lockup, the girl will have more options than if she had been tried as adult. She will go to school and get counseling.
George Ashford, the teen’s attorney, said he wasn’t surprised by the sentence. He said the victory for his client came earlier this year when the case was not moved to adult court.
The attorney said the girl’s mother took the verdict “very hard.” She was not allowed to speak to her daughter after the hearing and will have to visit her another time.
The state Commission on Judicial Conduct scolded a Dallas County judge for her “reckless” remark in an interview that a 14-year-old girl raped at school “wasn’t the victim she claimed to be.”
State District Judge Jeanine Howard’s comment about a sexual case she … [visit site to read more]
(Sarah Mervosh/The Dallas Morning News)
Steven Chaney, with his wife, Lenora, spoke to the media after his release Monday. (David Woo/Staff Photographer)
Steven Mark Chaney is a free man after spending 25 years behind bars after the faulty science of bite marks sent him to prison for murder.
Dentist Jim Hales told a Dallas County jury that there was a “1 to a million” chance that someone other than Chaney made the bite marks on John Sweek’s body. Now, Hales says the science used to convict Chaney has been discredited.
Outside the courtroom, Chaney bear-hugged family members, including his wife, mother and four brothers.
“I haven’t gotten to hug my mom,” Chaney exclaimed as he squeezed his mother, Darla Chaney, and kissed the top of her head.
Chaney’s attorneys, Julie Lesser, and the New York-based Innocence Project asked state District Judge Dominique Collins to release him based on the new bite mark evidence and allegations of prosecutor misconduct, including withholding evidence and eliciting false testimony.
Collins wore a large orange flower pin on her robe and bought Chaney celebratory pumpkin pie. She gave the dessert to Lesser before the hearing, telling Lesser she wanted Chaney to have something tasty after all that prison food.
Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk, Innocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck and county Commissioner John Wiley Price attended the hearing. As usual, for hearings involving possible wrongful convictions, several local exonerees from Dallas and Ellis counties filled the benches in the courtroom to support Chaney.
Chaney, a 59-year-old former construction worker, is asking for the courts to overturn his murder conviction. In Dallas County, more than 30 people have been exonerated for crimes they did not commit. Most of those exonerations were based on DNA evidence.
Etta Mullin
A former Dallas County criminal court judge who was scolded for her conduct on the bench has received an even harsher reprimand upon appeal.
Etta … [visit site to read more]
The turbulent marriage of Veronica Sauels and Ranji Alix Charles abruptly ended when he murdered her three months after they said “I do.” He shot her in the face and neck as she slept.
But violence and second chances in their relationship stretched back at least four years.
This week, in exchange for a 50-year sentence, Charles pleaded guilty to killing Sauels … [visit site to read more]
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