motion to recuse | recusal | disqualification of counsel | disqualification of judge | motion to disqualify | conflict of interest | bias | partiality | attorney discipline | disciplinary complaint disbarment | disciplinary action, suspension, disbarment | sanction | public private reprimand | suspension | disbarment | disqualify | attorney discipline Disciplinary Proceedings | Disqualification, Ethics, and Recusal Cases Cantu v. McKinney (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Dec. 22, 2009)(Higley)(denial of motion to recuse affirmed, pro se appeals) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley Before Justices Jennings, Higley and Sharp 01-07-01091-CV Tony Cantu and Elsa Cantu v. Wade McKinney, Jr., Rebecca R. McKinney, et al Appeal from 129th District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Grant Dorfman In Re Guilbot (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Nov. 3, 2009)(Anderson)(motion to recuse trial judge) (Judge Wood did not have the option of denying the motion to recuse as untimely). MOTION OR WRIT GRANTED: Opinion by Justice John Anderson Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Anderson and Boyce 14-09-00595-CV In Re Miguel Angel Gonzales Guilbot Appeal from Probate Court No 2 of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Michael James Wood In Re Alam (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 13, 2009)(per curiam) (mandamus seeking disqualification of trial judge denied) MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Per Curiam Before Justices Anderson and Boyce 14-09-00841-CV In Re Armughan Alam Appeal from 270th District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Brent Gamble Disqualification of judge from asbestos cases denied even though judge's former firm handled similar case: In Re Wilhite (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Sep. 25, 2009)(en banc opinion by Alcala) (mandamus to remove judge on claim of disqualification denied)(judicial disqualification)(asbestos litigation) DENY PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: Opinion by Justice Alcala Before Justices Jennings, Alcala and Higley 01-09-00387-CV In Re Edward and Margie Wilhite Appeal from 11th District Court of Harris County Dissenting Opinion by Justice Jennings re disqualification of judge from asbestos case Onwuteaka v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] Mar. 12, 2009)(Hedges) (attorney disciplinary proceeding, grievance) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Chief Justice Hedges Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Guzman and Brown 14-07-00544-CV Joseph Onwuteaka v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline Appeal from 151st District Court of Harris County Judge not shown on docket sheet In Re Murphy (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.] Mar. 5, 2009)(Yates) (attorney disqualification order set aside by mandamus) MOTION OR WRIT GRANTED: Opinion by Justice Brock Yates Before Justices Brock Yates, Seymore and Boyce 14-08-01017-CV In Re Michelle E. Murphy Appeal from Probate Court of Galveston County Trial Court Judge: Gladys Burwell Guilbot v. In the Estate of Gonzalez (Tex.App. - Houston [14th Dist.] Sep. 30, 2008)(Yates) (recusal order void, signed by judge while motion to recuse was pending) REVERSED AND REMANDED: Opinion by Justice Brock Yates Before Justices Brock Yates, Guzman and Brown 14-07-00047-CV Miguel Angel GonzalezGuilbot, Carlos A. Gonzalez Guilbot, and Maria Rosa Del Arena De Gonzalez v. In the Estate of Miguel Angel Luis Gonzalez Y Vallejo Appeal from Probate Court No 2 of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Michael James Wood Praise Tabernacle Outreach v. The Restoration Financial Group (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] July 29, 2008)(Guzman) (Church breach of contract, disqualification of counsel) AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Guzman Before Justices Brock Yates, Guzman and Brown 14-06-01055-CV Praise Tabernacle Outreach & Family Worship Center and Reflections of Christ's Kingdom v. The Restoration Financial Group, Inc. and Felecia W. Ward Appeal from County Court at Law No 2 & Probate Court of Brazoria County In the Estate of Gaines (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] July 1, 2008)(Anderson) (probate matter estate, disqualification of independent executor of estate proper, unsuitable person) AFFIRMED IN PART/REVERSED AND RENDERED: Opinion by Justice Anderson Before Justices Brock Yates, Anderson and Brown 14-07-00257-CV In the Estate of Margaret Lynn Gaines, Deceased Appeal from County Court at Law No 1 & Probate Court of Brazoria County Trial Court Judge: Jerry Lee Mills Under section 78 the court may disqualify a person from serving as an executor if the court finds that person "unsuitable." Tex. Prob. Code Ann. ' 78(e) (Vernon 2003); see Olguin, 931 S.W.2d at 609 (holding the provision disqualifying unsuitable persons from serving as executor applies to the appointment of an independent executor); Alford, 601 S.W.2d at 410 (applying section 78 to qualification of an independent executor). No comprehensive, discrete explanation exists delineating the attributes which make someone unsuitable. Olguin, 931 S.W.2d at 610; see Boyles v. Gresham, 158 Tex. 158, 161-63, 309 S.W.2d 50, 53-54 (1958) ("Neither the Model Code nor the Texas Probate Code purports to define 'unsuitable,' and we shall not attempt here to define it."). The trial court has broad discretion in determining whether an individual is "suitable" to serve as an executor. Kay v. Sandler, 704 S.W.2d 430, 433 (Tex. App.- Houston [14th Dist.] 1985, writ ref'd n.r.e.). In Re George R. Neely (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] June 26, 2008)(per curiam) (mandamus denied in attorney disbarment case) MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Per Curiam Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Fowler and Boyce) 14-08-00525-CV In Re George R. Neely Appeal from 164th District Court of Harris County Judge: Jack H. Robison, assigned judge In Re: Hoar Construction, LLC (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] May 29, 2008)(Fowler) (attorney properly disqualified, mandamus denied) MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Opinion by Justice Fowler Before Justices Brock Yates, Fowler and Guzman 14-07-00666-CV In Re: Hoar Construction, LLC; Landry's Management, LP; Landry's Restaurant, Inc.; Hospitality Headquarters, Inc.; and St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company Appeal from 61st District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: John P. Donovan In this original proceeding, relators seek mandamus relief from an order disqualifying their counsel of record from representing them in the trial court. We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it disqualified the lawyers pursuant to Rule 1.09(a)(2) of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct because a reasonable probability exists that confidential information will be revealed. We also conclude that the real party in interest, First Victoria National Bank, did not waive its right to seek disqualification. For these reasons, we deny relators' petition for writ of mandamus. Vasquez v. Hildenbrand (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 24, 2008)(Keyes) [auto PI, negligence, recusal motion denied] AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Keyes Before Justices Taft, Keyes and Alcala 01-06-01067-CV Nancy Vasquez v. Brenda Hildenbrand Appeal from County Civil Court at Law No 1 of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Jack Cagle The discretion vested in the trial court over the conduct of a trial is great. Dow Chem. Co. v. Francis, 46 S.W.3d 237, 240 (Tex. 2001). A trial court has the authority to express itself in exercising this broad discretion. Id. at 240-41. Opinions the judge forms during a trial do not necessitate recusal unless they display a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible. Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555, 114 S. Ct. 1147, 1157 (1994). Judicial remarks during the course of a trial that are critical or disapproving of, or even hostile to, counsel, the parties, or their cases ordinarily do not support a bias or partiality challenge. Id. Expressions of impatience, dissatisfaction, annoyance, or anger do not establish bias. Id. at 555-56, 114 S. Ct. at 1157. Such remarks may constitute bias if they reveal an opinion deriving from an extrajudicial source; however, when no extrajudicial source is alleged, such remarks will constitute bias only if they reveal such a high degree of favoritism or antagonism as to make fair judgment impossible. See Ludlow v. DeBerry, 959 S.W.2d 265, 271 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1997, no writ). To reverse a judgment on the ground of improper conduct or comments of the judge, we must find (1) that judicial impropriety was in fact committed and (2) probable prejudice to the complaining party. Metzger v. Sebek, 892 S.W.2d 20, 39 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, writ denied). The record shows that most of the alleged acts of misconduct concern events that happened outside the presence of the jury. Thus, although Vasquez argues that the "[c]ourt's admonitions, accusations, derogations, and theatrics couched in patriotic and religious displays directed against [Vasquez's] counsel throughout the trial, influenced the jury to view [Vasquez] and her counsel as outsiders," the record shows that the jury could not have been influenced by the trial court's actions because most of the actions happened outside the presence of the jury. For the remaining allegations of misconduct, the record shows that Vasquez did not assert any objections to what she now complains of on appeal. Thus, her complaints are waived. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1. Moreover, we have examined the entire record and conclude that Vasquez has failed to demonstrate judicial impropriety that resulted in harmful error. And, as in Metzger, we decline to unnecessarily lengthen this opinion with a review of each exchange Vasquez identifies in her brief, because no useful purpose would be served by doing so. See Metzger, 892 S.W.2d at 39. We overrule Vasquez's seventh issue on appeal. Substitution of Counsel: The Client is King - Sacked attorney had no standing to file TRCP 12 motion against replacement counsel, client may fire attorney without attorney's consent Texas Supreme Court issues opinion on denial of petition for mandamus relief involving recusal issues In re McKee, MD, No. 06-0055 (Tex. Nov. 30, 2007)(per curiam)(ethics law, recusal of judge, administrative order) The record does not present any reason—much less an extraordinary one—requiring Judge Ovard’s initial recusal; nor does it reflect a ground for precluding his administrative assignment to another judge. While we agree that Rule 18a(c) compels Judge Ovard, who recused initially, to state good cause for later assigning Judge Kupper, “good cause” will ordinarily be inherent in the administrative nature of that assignment.[1] We decline to issue mandamus because, unless there are extraordinary circumstances otherwise requiring Judge Ovard’s recusal, he need only revise his order to state that his assignment of Judge Kupper is a purely administrative act. Accordingly, we deny Dr. McKee’s petition for writ of mandamus. Trial Court should not have made ruling while motion to recuse was pending Riga v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] May 10, 2007)(Nuchia) [recusal motion, order signed while motion pending found void, exception did not apply] REVERSE TC JUDGMENT AND RENDER JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Nuchia Before Justices Nuchia, Keyes and Higley 01-06-00239-CV Peter J. Riga and Michael Easton v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline Appeal from 151st District Court of Harris County (Judge Fowler) The court of appeals finds that the trial court judge should have taken no action after referring motion to recuse to the administrative judge. Order found void. Good cause exception did not apply. Rather than addressing the jurisdictional issue, the court of appeals reverses the judge's order on the plea to the jurisdiction, and remands. Recusal motion was filed with wrong clerk, and was thus not pending when judge ruled Harris v. Winston (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] May 24, 2007)(Alcala) [life insurance proceeds, interpleader, motion to recuse filed with wrong clerk] AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Alcala Before Justices Taft, Jennings and Alcala 01-05-00962-CV William Francis Harris v. Antionette Richardson Winston Appeal from Probate Court of Galveston County (Judge Hon. Gladys B. Burwell) Riga v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] May 10, 2007)(Nuchia) The record establishes that Judge Fowler was aware that a second motion to recuse was pending when he signed the March 1, 2006 order granting the plea to the jurisdiction. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18a(c) requires a judge who declines to recuse to forward the recusal motion to the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region. (2) Judge Fowler did this. However, Rule 186a(c) further requires that the trial judge may make no further orders and take no further action prior to a hearing on the forwarded motion. The only exception provided by the Rule is if the further order states good cause for ruling notwithstanding the pending recusal motion. Here, the order granting the plea to the jurisdiction does not refer in any way to the pending recusal motion, much less state good cause for why the order was signed when the recusal motion was pending. Accordingly, the March 1, 2006 order is "void" because it was signed in violation of Rule 18a. See Hudson v. Tex. Children's Hosp., 177 S.W.3d 232, 236- 37 (Tex. App. -- Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, no pet.). In Re Miguel Angel Gonazales Guilbot (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Mar. 27, 2007)(per curiam) (recusal of probate judge) MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Per Curiam Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Fowler and Edelman 14-07-00031-CV In Re: Miguel Angel Gonazales Guilbot Appeal from Probate Court No 2 of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Guy S. Herman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Opinion issued May 10, 2007 In The Court of Appeals For The First District of Texas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NO. 01-06-00239-CV -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PETER J. RIGA AND MICHAEL EASTON, Appellants V. COMMISSION FOR LAWYER DISCIPLINE, Appellee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Appeal from the 151st District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2005-06483 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- O P I N I O N In this interlocutory appeal, the district court granted a plea to the jurisdiction and held that, in a disciplinary action against a lawyer, the district court has no subject-matter jurisdiction over issues and parties not contemplated by the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(a)(8) (Vernon Supp. 2006) (allowing interlocutory appeal). The district court's March 1, 2006 order dismissed all other parties to the disciplinary action other than appellee, the Commission for Lawyer Discipline, and appellant Peter J. Riga. Appellants Michael Easton and Riga appeal. We reverse. Background The Commission brought a disciplinary action against Riga, alleging that Riga violated provisions of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and that Riga assisted Easton, his legal assistant, in the unauthorized practice of law. Pursuant to Texas Rule of Disciplinary Procedure 3.02, the supreme court appointed the Honorable Craig Fowler, judge of the 255th District Court of Dallas County, to preside over the disciplinary action. Easton filed a plea in intervention, bringing claims against Pamela Halliburton, the Commission's lawyer, and Suzanne Ross, a member of one of the State Bar's grievance committees. Riga filed counterclaims against the State Bar of Texas, the Commission, and Halliburton, seeking monetary damages under title 42, United States Code, section 1983 and sanctions under state law. Easton later filed a motion to recuse Judge Fowler. The State Bar, the Commission, Halliburton, and Ross filed a plea to the jurisdiction in which they argued (1) that Judge Fowler's appointment order did not authorize him to preside over any parties or claims other than the disciplinary action brought by the Commission against Riga and (2) that the district court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction over parties and claims outside the disciplinary action. Before taking action on the motion to recuse, Judge Fowler granted the plea to the jurisdiction on May 25, 2005. That order was not appealed. In November 2005, Judge Fowler referred Easton's motion to recuse to the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region, who later denied the motion. Acting in "an abundance of caution" after the denial of the motion to recuse, the State Bar, the Commission, Halliburton, and Ross asked the district court to reconsider its plea to the jurisdiction. Before the district court signed a second order on March 1, 2006 granting the plea to the jurisdiction, Riga and Easton on February 20, 2006 filed another motion to recuse Judge Fowler. The district court's March 1, 2006 order does not mention the pending recusal motion, but in a separate order on March 1, 2006, the district court referred the recusal motion to the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region. The record does not reflect the ultimate disposition of the recusal motion. Discussion Riga and Easton bring two issues. The first challenges the district court's action in ruling on the plea to the jurisdiction while the recusal motion was pending. The second challenges the merits of the order, in which Riga and Easton argue that the district court as a court of general jurisdiction had subject-matter jurisdiction over the matters concerning the other parties and claims. (1) The record establishes that Judge Fowler was aware that a second motion to recuse was pending when he signed the March 1, 2006 order granting the plea to the jurisdiction. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18a(c) requires a judge who declines to recuse to forward the recusal motion to the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region. (2) Judge Fowler did this. However, Rule 186a(c) further requires that the trial judge may make no further orders and take no further action prior to a hearing on the forwarded motion. The only exception provided by the Rule is if the further order states good cause for ruling notwithstanding the pending recusal motion. Here, the order granting the plea to the jurisdiction does not refer in any way to the pending recusal motion, much less state good cause for why the order was signed when the recusal motion was pending. Accordingly, the March 1, 2006 order is "void" because it was signed in violation of Rule 18a. See Hudson v. Tex. Children's Hosp., 177 S.W.3d 232, 236-37 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, no pet.). The Commission argues that, even if Judge Fowler erroneously signed the March 1, 2006 order, the dismissal was proper on the grounds of governmental immunity. This argument was not raised in the plea to the jurisdiction, and we decline to address it before this ground is presented to the trial court. Accordingly, we sustain issue one. We do not reach issue two, concerning the scope of the district court's jurisdiction over matters not directly related to the Commission's disciplinary action against Riga. Conclusion We reverse the March 1, 2006 order granting the plea to the jurisdiction. We do not render an order in its place because the trial court should not have taken action until the forwarded recusal motion was heard pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18a(d). The Clerk of this Court is directed to issue the mandate immediately. See Tex. R. App. P. 18.6. This opinion is to be published in the official reporter system pursuant to Texas Rule of Disciplinary Procedure 6.06. Sam Nuchia Justice Panel consists of Justices Nuchia, Keyes, and Higley. 1. Riga and Easton draw a distinction between whether the district court has subject-matter jurisdiction to hear the matters concerning the other parties and claims, as opposed to whether it would be error for the district court to litigate those matters in a disciplinary action. 2. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18a refers to the presiding judge of the administrative judicial district, rather than the administrative judicial region. The legislature created administrative judicial regions. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 74.042 (Vernon 2005). The term "administrative judicial region" is used in the Rules of Judicial Administration, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 3a, and Texas Parental Notification Rule 2.2(d). The term "administrative judicial district" is used in Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18a, Rule of Disciplinary Procedure 3.02, and Standards and Rules for Certification of Certified Shorthand Reporters section IV(O). The difference in terms is immaterial. |
Ethics, Conflicts of Interest, Recusal and Disqualification Cases Decided by Houston Courts of Appeal Houston Opinions | Texas Opinions |
RECENT TEXAS SUPREME COURT DECISIONS In the Matter of Eugene X. Mercier, No. 06-1008 (Tex. Dec. 21, 2007)(per curiam)(attorney discipline, suspension, disbarment) Supreme Court denies motion to recuse for anti-plaintiff bias Motion to recuse Justice Hecht denied In Re Michael Angelo Basco, No. 05-0771 (Tex. Apr. 20, 2007)(per curiam)(disqualification of counsel, mandamus granted) Low v. Henry, No. 04-0452 (Tex. Apr. 20, 2007)(Wainwright)(HCLC, sanctions for false factual claims) Tesco v. Strong, No. 04-0269 (Tex. Mar. 17, 2006)(Brister)(judicial disqualification, recusal) Justice Nathan Hecht delivered a separate opinion in Tesco v. Strong appellate judge recusal case American Flood Research v. Jones, No. 05-0271 (Tex. May 5, 2006)(per curiam opinion)(sanctions case law) |