On Monday, March 9, 2026, the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded Jared Shaw, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1 in Floresville, Wilson County, and ordered him to undergo additional education following a review of his conduct in a case involving Evelyn Marie Fleming. The commission’s decision stems from events that occurred during a hearing on April 7, 2025, related to Fleming’s minor child’s non-attendance at school.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Jared Shaw,” with case number 25-0832.

According to the commission’s findings, Fleming was summoned to appear in Judge Shaw’s court regarding allegations of Parent Contributing to Non-Attendance of a Minor. During the hearing, while Fleming was presenting her case, Assistant County Attorney Evelyn Huron and Floresville ISD Representative Jennifer Lane allegedly made rude and sarcastic comments and laughed at her. Judge Shaw reportedly did not admonish either Huron or Lane for their behavior.

Further, Judge Shaw questioned Fleming’s daughter about her school absences. After Lane corrected the daughter’s estimate of 40 days to 83 days, Judge Shaw allegedly told the minor, “I can’t put you in jail, but I can put your mom in jail for three days.” Subsequently, Judge Shaw held Fleming in contempt of court, ordering her arrest and confinement in the Wilson County Jail for three days, without holding a show cause hearing or affording her legal counsel.

The commission found that Judge Shaw issued a contempt order stating Fleming willfully disobeyed a previous court order from April 7, 2025, for “not paying a fine of $603.00 and Parent Contributing to Non-Attendance of Minor.” However, court documents provided to the Commission did not contain evidence of the previously issued order for a $603.00 fine.

Later that evening, Judge Shaw visited Fleming at the Wilson County Jail and informed her of her impending release, ordering her to return to his court on April 10, 2025. While Judge Shaw did not issue a new release order, he signed a post-it note attached to the original April 7 order, stating, “Release: 1 Day jail service. Reconvene for hearing on Thursday, 10 April @ 1230.”

On April 10, 2025, Fleming returned to Judge Shaw’s courtroom, where the judge discussed the charge with her and reduced the fine to $100.00, crediting her with one day served. When Fleming stated she could not make a full payment due to her financial situation, Judge Shaw reportedly failed to hold a mandatory hearing to determine whether the judgment imposed an undue hardship. He eventually found her indigent on July 18, 2025, without a hearing.

In his written responses to the Commission, Judge Shaw stated Fleming and her daughter were flippant and smiling during the April 7 hearing, leading him to believe they did not take the situation seriously. He also noted that Fleming was the cousin of his Chief Clerk, suggesting she thought this familial relationship would influence his decision. Judge Shaw admitted he sentenced Fleming to jail because of her daughter’s behavior, stating her flippancy reflected poorly on Fleming as a mother. He also stated he wanted to send a message to her, as this was her third time before him regarding issues with her children.

The Commission determined Judge Shaw failed to comply with the law, maintain order and decorum in his courtroom, and be patient, dignified, and courteous to Fleming and her daughter. They also cited his failure to provide Fleming with an opportunity to be heard and his improper ex parte communication with her during the April 10 meeting.

As a result of these findings, Judge Shaw is required to obtain four hours of instruction with a mentor, including three hours in truancy law and one hour in contempt law, within 60 days of written notification of the mentor’s assignment.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.