On Monday, October 20, 2025, the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded Jennifer Eggen, a former municipal judge in Hereford, Deaf Smith County, for multiple instances of misconduct during her tenure.

The commission’s decision, stemming from complaints CJC NOS. 22-0515 & 22-1411, and a review concluded on August 6-7, 2025, cites violations of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and the Texas Constitution.

The commission’s findings detailed a pattern of behavior that included berating and demeaning juveniles and their parents in court. Witnesses testified that Judge Eggen regularly yelled so loudly that courthouse staff could hear through the courtroom walls. In one instance, on May 11, 2021, Judge Eggen allegedly made a disturbing statement to a 15-year-old child, D.R., involving a racially charged and sexually suggestive comment about his potential experience in jail. She also allegedly told D.R.’s parents they “should’ve slapped him.” Similar comments were attributed to Judge Eggen in another case involving a different juvenile.

Further findings revealed that Judge Eggen displayed favoritism towards prominent community members and friends by allowing them to remove or defer tickets or charges, a privilege not extended to the majority of other defendants. For example, in 2020, at the request of a local commissioner, Mark Collier, Judge Eggen allowed an employee to defer a ticket, despite the employee having already pled guilty. Another instance involved a member of Judge Eggen’s church, Donovan Diaz, who was offered deferred adjudication on an assault charge at the judge’s instruction.

The commission also found that Judge Eggen engaged in biased conduct against Hispanics, undocumented individuals, and those with low incomes. She allegedly made disparaging remarks about defendants’ intelligence and parental skills, particularly in cases involving driving without a license. Undocumented individuals were reportedly subjected to harsh questioning about their immigration status and potential interactions with Child Protective Services. Additionally, Judge Eggen allegedly refused to allow defendants who did not speak English into her courtroom unless they had privately secured an interpreter.

The reprimand also addressed Judge Eggen’s handling of fines and payment plans. The commission found she routinely failed to hold hearings to determine undue hardship or provide indigency forms to defendants who claimed an inability to pay. In one case, she dismissed a defendant seeking an extended payment plan, telling him to “get out of here, just go.” Judge Eggen also pressured defendants to pay unpaid fines by tactics such as confiscating car keys and photographing license plates.

In response to the allegations, Judge Eggen initially stated she had retired from her position after 19 years of service but later denied any misconduct in a supplemental response. The Commission issued the public reprimand to protect the public and promote public confidence in the judicial system.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.