General Discussion

Playinghardball

(11,665 posts) Tue Jan 6, 2015, 02:58 PM Jan 2015

Texas Judge resigns after being caught texting instructions to prosecutors to help win convictions

Texas district Judge Elizabeth E. Coker is stepping down from the bench after being caught engaging in a massive perversion of justice. A whistleblower revealed that Corker was sending text messages to prosecutors with suggestions on questions to ask in court in order to secure a conviction.

from Houston Chronicle:

State District Judge Elizabeth E. Coker—who sits on the bench over Trinity, Polk and San Jacinto counties—has resigned under fire in a texting controversy, according to a voluntary agreement with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

It stems from complaints and media stories alleging that Coker “had engaged in improper ex parte text communications with Polk County Assistant District Attorney Kaycee Jones while Judge Coker presided” over a criminal trial in August of 2012.

With those complaints, “the commission commenced an investigation into allegations that Judge Coker used Assistant District Attorney Jones to privately communicate information” about the case “to suggest questions for the prosecutor to ask during the trial” among other issues.

More here: http://poorrichardsnews.com/post/65069957264/texas-judge-resigns-after-being-caught-texting

13 replies

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Texas Judge resigns after being caught texting instructions to prosecutors to help win convictions (Original Post) Playinghardball Jan 2015 OP

That was certainly some kangaroo court type bullshit MrScorpio Jan 2015 #1

I like that "Certificate of Honor" hanging right there. HappyMe Jan 2015 #2

Holy Shit! rgbecker Jan 2015 #3

Interesting site you link to hootinholler Jan 2015 #4

I think that this is the kind of HappyMe Jan 2015 #5

Does that change the gist of the story? GGJohn Jan 2015 #6

But the Texas part is still right ... right? FiveGoodMen Jan 2015 #11

October 2013 MohRokTah Jan 2015 #7

I remember the story PDittie Jan 2015 #12

"Anything goes ... until you get caught." lpbk2713 Jan 2015 #8

Does this mean everyone convicted in her courtroom is set free? Takket Jan 2015 #9

Yet some would still argue that the system is just and fair. Scuba Jan 2015 #10

both she and the prosecutor need to be prosecuted Terra Alta Jan 2015 #13

MrScorpio

(73,631 posts)

1. That was certainly some kangaroo court type bullshit

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 03:04 PM

Jan 2015

Texas: Gotta love it!

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)

2. I like that "Certificate of Honor" hanging right there.

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 03:11 PM

Jan 2015

So much for that.

Buh bye.

rgbecker

(4,832 posts)

3. Holy Shit!

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 03:11 PM

Jan 2015

This has got to be right at the top of list of "How the justice system in America sucks."

hootinholler

(26,449 posts)

4. Interesting site you link to

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 03:14 PM

Jan 2015

UPDATE #2: Several of our liberal Democrat friends have pointed out that Ms. Coker “switched parties” shortly before getting caught breaking the law. Not only is that all too convenient, but it’s irrelevant. That makes her about as credible a “Republican” as Florida’s Charlie Crist. Besides that, she was elected as a Democrat not on the GOP ticket, so any attempts to turn this back around and blame it on Republicans or “Republican values” (as some have tried to say) is laughable and delusional.

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)

5. I think that this is the kind of

Reply to hootinholler (Reply #4)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 03:18 PM

Jan 2015

hideous thing where party doesn't matter. An asshat judge is an asshat judge.

GGJohn

(9,951 posts)

6. Does that change the gist of the story?

Reply to hootinholler (Reply #4)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 03:25 PM

Jan 2015

Who cares if she's a Democrat or a Republican, the bottom line is she's a corrupt judge, who, along with the prosecutor, should be charged and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

FiveGoodMen

(20,018 posts)

11. But the Texas part is still right ... right?

Reply to hootinholler (Reply #4)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 06:11 PM

Jan 2015

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)

7. October 2013

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 03:27 PM

Jan 2015

Original Houston Chronicle Story from October 21, 2013

Also, you used a notorious wingnut site as your original source.

PDittie

(8,322 posts)

12. I remember the story

Reply to MohRokTah (Reply #7)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 07:16 PM

Jan 2015

I would similarly ask the OP why a year old story from a conservative blog was regurgitated now. It seems less preposterous that it got a dozen recommends, since most people don't follow the links...

Here's an update.

She filed to run for county district attorney two days after she resigned as judge...

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/texting-judge-elizabeth-coker-announces-district-attorney-run-two-days-after-resigning#

She lost to the incumbent in the GOP primary in the spring of this year:

http://www.easttexasnews.com/Enterprise/News/Ind/Stories%202014/34.html

"During the party primaries, there were three other local opposed races on the ballot, all on the Republican side. In the Polk County Criminal District Attorney's race, incumbent Lee Hon easily won the nomination for another four-year term, defeating former District Judge Elizabeth Coker. Hon garnered 3,909 votes (66.64%) while Coker was given 1,957 votes (33.36%)."

At this time she appears to be practicing law in Livingston (Texas).

http://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=223822

lpbk2713

(42,760 posts)

8. "Anything goes ... until you get caught."

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 03:30 PM

Jan 2015

The GOP Golden Rule.

Once caught they start pointing fingers in all directions.

Takket

(21,578 posts)

9. Does this mean everyone convicted in her courtroom is set free?

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 03:31 PM

Jan 2015

or at least entitled to a new trial?

not that I want to see a truly guilty murder go free but how many innocents are behind bars because of this?????????

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

10. Yet some would still argue that the system is just and fair.

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 04:08 PM

Jan 2015

Terra Alta

(5,158 posts)

13. both she and the prosecutor need to be prosecuted

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2015, 07:21 PM

Jan 2015

and anyone convicted under the trial in which the texting took place, should be retried.

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