| ► Judge William Burke of Houston; scofflaw; moron, ethical gremlin |
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Judge William Burke of Houston; scofflaw, moron, ethical gremlin
Apparently Judge William Burke of Houston is ignorant of the fact that a judge is prohibited from communicating in any manner with jurors.
As we all know, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that “campaign contributions” were a form of “free speech.”
From February 2004 to June 2009, Judge William Burke spent $5,542.65 of his campaign funds to purchase “coffee” and various items utilized for dispensing coffee for “jurors” serving in his court.
In addition, Judge William Burke spent another $397.07 in campaign funds during the same period of time to purchase “supplies for jurors.”
Judge William Burke purchases gifts for departing judges
In 2007 and 2008, Judge William Burke spent $3,030.85 to purchase flags and display cases for departing judges as set forth below.
Money Maker Flag, 20081126, 2654.25, Flags and display cases for departing judges
Money Maker Flag, 20071203, 376.60, Expense of 2 flags and cases for 2 civil district judges leaving bench
Texas Ethics Laws limits the expenditure of campaigns funds to legitimate campaign activities and/or official officeholder duties.
It would be absurd for Judge William Burke to argue that purchasing coffee and supplies for jurors was an “official officeholder duty.”
It would be even more absurd for Judge William Burke to claim that the $6,000 he spent on jurors was a “legitimate campaign activity.”
Moreover, Judge William Burke’s expenditure of $3,000 to purchase flags and display cases for departing judges had absolutely nothing to do with his official judicial duties nor was it a legitimate campaign activity.
It should be noted that Houston Judge Grant Dorfman subsequently reimbursed Judge William Burke for the 2,645.25 to purchase flags and display cases for departing judges.
It would be frivolous to the nth degree to suggest that these jurors were not aware and/or made aware by some court functionary that Judge William Burke paid for their coffee, etc.
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