Austin-based Texas Civil Rights Project was one of the groups that filed a complaint against Judge Sharon Keller for judicial misconduct. After learning that the State Commission on Judicial Conduct is taking action re: the complaint, the group released this statement:

"We hope that it will lead to her removal from office. What Judge Keller did was legally and morally reprehensible and brought the administration of criminal justice in Texas into ill repute across the nation, as evidenced by the New York Times editorial today, calling for her impeachment," said Texas Civil Rights Project Director Jim Harrington.

This does not stop the legislative action against her from proceeding. As you probably know, state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, filed a resolution this week to begin impeachment proceedings against the judge. (The NY Times editorial board piece is here.) I called the court asking for a response and was told the judge has no comment.

How does this action proceed? Here's what we're told.

There's going to be a pubIc trial sometime down the road, where the Commission will be represented by special counsel Mike McKetta, and the judge represented by Chip Babcock.

After that there will be a special master's report. The report will be presented to the commission. At that point the commission can dismiss charges, or issue public censure or ask the Texas Supreme Court to remove the judge from office.

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