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The State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) issued a public reprimand to Harris County District Court Judge Ursula Hall for failing to perform her judicial duties in a timely manner.
SCJC Issues a Public Reprimand to Harris County District Court Judge Ursula Hall
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) issued a public reprimand, on April 15, 2024, to Judge Ursula Hall, who presides over the 165th Judicial District Court in Houston, Harris County, Texas. This reprimand comes as a result of a review conducted by the SCJC regarding allegations against Judge Hall. The investigation culminated in a finding that Judge Hall failed to perform her judicial duties in a timely manner, leading to a public reprimand by the commission.
The commission’s review encompassed allegations regarding Judge Hall’s handling of cases in her court, particularly related to setting, hearing, deciding, and signing orders. It was noted that this conduct was previously sanctioned, with the SCJC having issued a Public Warning and Order of Additional Education to Judge Hall in 2020 for similar infractions.
Chief Justice Tracy Christopher of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas filed one of the complaints against Judge Hall, citing a recurring pattern of delays in rulings, prompting litigants and appellate courts to expend unnecessary resources in processing mandamus petitions.
In response to the allegations, Judge Hall denied neglecting her judicial duties and contested that the delays constituted judicial misconduct. She acknowledged the prolonged pendency of motions in her court but attributed this to circumstances beyond her control. Judge Hall suggested that various factors, including the actions of the District Clerk’s Office, the behavior of filing attorneys, local legal and political influences, and decisions of the appellate courts, contributed to the situation.
SCJC Cites Violations Committed by Harris County District Court Judge Ursula Hall
In the course of its deliberation, the SCJC found that Judge Hall’s actions violated the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and the Texas Government Code. The commission determined that Judge Hall’s failure to comply with and maintain professional competence in the law, as well as her inability to hear and decide matters assigned to her in a timely manner, constituted willful and persistent conduct that is clearly inconsistent with the proper performance of her duties, casting public discredit upon the judiciary and the administration of justice.
As a result of these findings, the commission publicly reprimanded Judge Hall, citing various violations violations, to include Canons 2A, 3B(1), and 3B(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, Section 33.001(b)(1) of the Texas Government Code, and Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.
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