Author Topic: Texas appeals court reverses case after judge told lawyers to ‘hurry up’ — then ruled mid-trial  (Read 572 times)

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Online Elderberry

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Houston Chronicle by  Keri Blakinger July 15, 2019

Texas appeals court reverses case after judge told lawyers to ‘hurry up’ — then ruled mid-trial

A Texas appeals court overturned a decision by a Harris County civil judge who cut off testimony mid-way through trial and then abruptly issued a ruling after complaining he wanted the parties involved to “hurry up.”

Throughout the proceedings for the small contract dispute in Harris County Court at Law No. 1, Judge George Barnstone expressed frustration at how long things were taking. Then, while attorneys peppered the defendant with questions, Barnstone cut in with one of his own: “What do I have to do to get y’all to hurry up?”

One attorney suggested simply dismissing the case altogether — and Barnstone promptly responded by issuing a judgment against the man’s client, then threatening to have bailiffs remove the lawyer from his court when he asked questions, according to court records.

“I was shocked,” said attorney G. Troy Pickett. “Judges generally don’t violate the due process of the people in front of them in ways that are apparent. It happens enough that there are appellate courts to take care of it, but generally it’s a question of law and the judge is doing the best that they can — but this was not that.”

Pickett appealed the ruling and last week the First Court of Appeals sided with him, sending the matter back to Barnstone’s court for another look. When reached for comment by a Chronicle reporter, the jurist initially responded to multiple questions with extended silence before explaining that he could not comment.

More: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-appeals-court-reverses-case-after-judge-14092539.php

Offline Polly Ticks

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Wow. 

I guess supper was waiting at home and he had to get to it.
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Offline XenaLee

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Wow. 

I guess supper was waiting at home and he had to get to it.

Yeah.... I 'was' going to posit that he probably had a hot date with a young hottie he had to get to...

but after seeing his pic, nah.   It had to be a "hot" tv dinner....lololol.

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Offline Bigun

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What you get when straight ticket democrat voting puts idiots on benches.
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