On Thursday, June 6, 2024, the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly warned Judge Francisco Balderrama of the Lake Worth Municipal Court in Lake Worth, Tarrant County.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Francisco Balderrama,” with case number 24-0168.
The Commission concluded its review of allegations against Judge Balderrama during their meeting in early April 2024. Judge Balderrama, who has served as a municipal judge, did not fulfill his required 16 hours of judicial education for the 2022-2023 academic year. All judges in Texas are expected to complete continuing legal education each year in order to maintain competence in the law.
Judge Balderrama failed to seek a waiver for the education requirements. When the Commission sent letters of inquiry to the judge in December 2023 and February 2024 regarding the allegations, he did not provide any responses. The Commission also attempted to contact Judge Balderrama by phone but did not receive a return call.
As a public official, Judge Balderrama has a duty under the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct to comply with the law and act in a manner that upholds public confidence in the independence and integrity of the judiciary. His failure to complete the mandatory judicial training and cooperate with the Commission’s investigation constituted conduct that violates the Code.
Based on the evidence, the Commission determined that a public warning was the appropriate sanction. They emphasized that the sanction was aimed at protecting the public and maintaining trust in the court system.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
