► Judge Mary Murphy of Dallas; scofflaw, moron, ethical gnome Print
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Judge Mary Murphy of Dallas; scofflaw, moron, ethical gnome

 

Up through 2006, Judge Mary Murphy sat on the 283rd District Court in Dallas. Judge Vickers Cunningham now sits on the 5th District Court of Appeals in Dallas.
 
Texas Election laws prohibit the use of campaign funds for personal use. Put simply, campaign funds can only be spent on official officeholder duties and/or for legitimate campaign purposes.
 
Court personnel bonuses courtesy of Judge Mary Murphy
 
From 2005 through 2008, Judge Mary Murphy spent $7,000 in campaign funds to provide bonuses to various court personnel working at the 14th District Court in Dallas. Those bonuses are as follows:
  • Hughes, Bennetta, 20081126, 250.00, Court Administrator Bonus for Additional Court Responsibilities
  • Hughes, Bennetta, 20081223, 500.00, Court Administrator Christmas Bonus
  • LiVigni, Michael, 20081223, 500.00, Bailiff Christmas Bonus
  • Rivera, David, 20081223, 500.00, Deputy Clerk Christmas Bonus
  • Robert, Diane, 20081223, 500.00, Court Reporter Christmas Bonus
  • Sellers, Carolyn, 20081223, 500.00, Lead Clerk Christmas Bonus
  • Hughes, Bennetta, 20080310, 150.00, Court Administrator Bonus -- Additional court responsibilities 
  • Hughes, Bennetta, 20071218, 500.00, Court Administrator Christmas Bonus
  • LiVigni, Michael, 20071218, 500.00, Bailiff Christmas Bonus
  • Rivera, David, 20071218, 500.00, Deputy Clerk Christmas Bonus
  • Robert, Diane, 20071218, 500.00, Court Reporter Christmas Bonus
  • Thomas, Margaret, 20071218, 500.00, Deputy Clerk Christmas Bonus
  • Robert, Diane, 20051213,400.00,2005 Court Staff Bonus
  • Holder, Kathryn, 20051213,400.00,2005 Court Staff Bonus
  • Hughes, Bennetta, 20051213,400.00,2005 Court Staff Bonus
  • Thomas, Margaret, 20051213,400.00,2005 Court Staff Bonus
Holiday gifts for court personnel courtesy of Judge Mary Murphy
 
In addition to the $7,000 in bonuses, Judge Mary Murphy also spent $2,900 of campaign funds to purchase holiday/Christmas gifts for court employees as set forth below.
  • Hughes, Bennetta, 20061222, 400.00, Holiday gift for Court Administrator
  • LiVigni, Mike, 20061222, 400.00, Holiday gift for Court Bailiff 
  • Rivera, David, 20061222, 250.00, Holiday gift for Deputy Clerk (1/2 year
  • Robert, Diane, 20061222, 400.00, Holiday gift for Court Reporter
  • Thomas, Margaret, 20061222, 400.00, Holiday gift for Deputy Clerk
  • Holder, Kathryn, 00041221, 150.00, Staff Christmas Gift
  • Hughes, Bennetta, 00041221, 300.00, Staff Christmas Gift
  • Sweeney, Jacqueline, 00041221, 300.00, Staff Christmas Gift
  • Thomas, Margaret, 00041221, 300.00, Staff Christmas Gift
Judge Mary Murphy also spent several hundred dollars of campaign funds to purchase notepads for court personnel along with gift cards as set forth below.
  • Neiman Marcus, 20050610, 172.65, Notepads for court staff
  • Starbucks, 20081222, 250.00, Gift cards for Court Personnel
I guess Judge Mary Murphy thought it appropriate to “splurge” by purchasing notepads at “Neiman Marcus” rather than at Wal-Mart like you (aka, common folk) would do.
 
Judge Mary Murphy buys Refrigerator for Court Clerks
 
In August 2006, Judge Mary Murphy spent $403.64 of campaign funds to purchase a refrigerator for the Court Clerks on the 5th floor as shown below.
  • Judge Mary Murphy:  Sam's Club, 20060830, 403.64, Refrigerator for Court Clerks on 5th Floor
This illegal expense clearly had nothing to do with Judge Mary Murphy’s official judicial duties.
 
Judge Mary Murphy paying for intern/staff lunches, etc.
 
From 2005 to 2008, Judge Mary Murphy spent $2,834.40 of campaign funds for court staff and intern lunches, which are set forth below.
  • Bakers Ribs, 20080710, 100.00, Pro rata share for court intern lunch 
  • PF Chang's, 20080807, 138.74, going away lunch for court intern and staff
  • YO Ranch, 20080718, 114.77, going away lunch for court intern and staff
  • Dallas Bar Foundation, 20070615, 150.00, Additional Bar None Tickets for Interns
  • Eddie Dean's, Judge Martin Hoffman, 20070620, 120.00, Share of Intern Lunch
  • J. L. Turner Legal Association, 20070531, 150.00, Annual Lunch with Legal Interns
  • Amore, 20070615, 201.53, Dinner for Clerks and Court Staff
  • JL Turner Legal Assn, 20060622, 175.00, Thurgood Marshall Award Lunch (court staff/interns)
  • Dining In, 20050817, 116.62, Intern/Staff lunch
  • Penne Pomodoro, 20050625, 150.79, Dinner for court staff and interns
  • Chili’s Knox, 20050421, 104.69, Court Staff and Intern Lunch
  • Cadillac Bar Dallas, 00040917, 103.78, Staff Going Away for Intern McFarlin
  • Dallas Bar Foundation, 20040602, 1000.00, Bar None Sponsor/Intern-Staff Event
  • Sonny Bryan's Barbecue, 20040609, 209.00, 1/2 Share of Intern Lunch
Conclusion
 
In this ol’ Dawg’s opinion, it is patently clear that Judge Mary Murphy illegally used campaign funds as her own personal piggy bank in order to shower court employees with gifts, meals and bonuses.
 
In the past, The Texas Ethics Commission determined it was legal for state legislators to use campaign funds to supplement the income of state employees working in their respective offices. However, that opinion cannot be interpreted to allow judicial officers to pay bonuses to court employees.
 
I suppose that Judge Mary Murphy will declare that she was ignorant of the law in regards to the above expenditures of campaign funds. Although we all know “ignorance of the law” is not a valid defense, it is in may instances a stepping stone to higher office.