On Friday, August 1, 2025, 3NEWS reported that San Patricio County District Attorney Margie Silva filed a grievance against 158th District Court Judge Patrick L. Flanigan with the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Silva also requested a criminal investigation into Flanigan’s conduct and moved for his recusal from cases involving her office. The actions stem from a heated dispute that occurred during a trial involving defendant Reymundo Dominguez.
The conflict began when Flanigan entered Silva’s office and criticized her management, alleging her staff mishandled the escorting of witnesses between the DA’s office and the courtroom. Court documents indicate Flanigan accused Silva’s team of failing to perform their duties effectively. In response, Silva’s recusal motion seeks to bar Flanigan from presiding over any cases prosecuted by her office, including the Dominguez case, citing his apparent bias against her and her staff.
The 36th, 156th, and 343rd District Courts serve Aransas, Bee, Live Oak, McMullen, and San Patricio counties, with felony cases split among Judges Starr Bauer, Janna Whatley, and Flanigan.
Silva’s recusal motion argues that Flanigan’s alleged contempt for her office raises doubts about his ability to rule impartially while the grievance and potential criminal investigation are pending. The nature of the alleged criminal conduct by Flanigan remains unspecified in the documents.
The recusal motion is expected to be reviewed by 4th Administrative Judicial Region Judge Sid Hane, based in San Antonio.
Until a decision is reached, cases handled by Silva’s office may be reassigned to the dockets of Bauer or Whatley to ensure continuity in the judicial process.
Source: 3NEWS
