On Monday, June 23, 2025, the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished Dallas County Judge Amber Givens of the 282nd Judicial District Court for actions taken in two cases after her recusal, violating judicial conduct standards. The admonition followed a review of complaints during the Commission’s meeting on December 3-4, 2024, with Judge Givens providing written responses and testifying on June 4, 2025.

In the first case, State of Texas v. Ivan Dequulan Paris (Case No. F21-52600), a recusal motion was filed against Judge Givens on July 7, 2022. On August 17, 2022, Judge Ray Wheless, presiding judge of the First Administrative Region, granted the motion, removing Givens from the case. The case was assigned to Judge Michael Snipes on December 17, 2022.

In 2023, Paris, on probation, participated in an empowerment program in the 282nd Judicial District Court. In October or November 2023, a court officer reported disruptive behavior by Paris during a program session. On November 2, 2023, Judge Givens ordered Paris to appear in court to explain his actions. Deeming his explanation unsatisfactory, she issued a jail sanction order. Paris’ attorney filed a motion with Judge Snipes, arguing Givens lacked authority due to her recusal. On November 8, 2023, Snipes granted the motion, and Paris was released after six days in Dallas County Jail.

In the second case, State of Texas v. Samuel Navaenriquez (Case No. F20-61259), a recusal motion was filed on August 18, 2022. Judge Givens voluntarily recused herself on August 22, 2022, and Judge Wheless assigned the case to Judge Snipes on October 11, 2022. On July 6, 2023, a scheduled setting in the case, presided over by Snipes, did not require Navaenriquez’s presence. However, believing the setting was in her court, Judge Givens issued an order declaring Navaenriquez’s bond insufficient and ordered his arrest when he and his attorney did not appear.

Judge Givens attributed her actions to errors in the Dallas County Courts’ electronic docketing system, Odyssey, which failed to reflect her recusal. She stated that in July 2023, she emailed the Dallas County District Clerk’s Office to update the system and, in November 2023, discussed the issue with a staff attorney, leading to an order from Judge Wheless on November 27, 2023, directing the clerk’s office to correct the records.

The Commission found that Givens violated Canons 2A, 3B(2), and 3B(4) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, as well as due process clauses of the U.S. and Texas Constitutions, by ordering Paris jailed and Navaenriquez arrested without authority and failing to treat Paris with patience, dignity, and courtesy.

The admonishment is the second sanction imposed on Givens, who was previously reprimanded by the Commission for allegedly instructing her court coordinator to impersonate her during a Zoom hearing.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.