On Monday, August 19, 2024, the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished former Port Isabel Municipal Judge Lee “Kenny” Perez for failing to fulfill his judicial education requirements and for not cooperating with the Commission’s investigation.
The case is entitled “In The Matter of Judge Lee “Kenny” Perez,” with case number 24-0166.
According to the document, which the state agency released earlier this month, the Commission held a meeting on August 7, 2024, where they reviewed the allegations against Judge Perez. Despite being informed of the Commission’s concerns through a letter, he did not provide a written response. Judge Perez did appear before the Commission, testifying on the matter.
The Commission’s findings revealed that Judge Perez, who served as a municipal judge in Port Isabel, Cameron County, Texas, failed to complete the mandatory 16 hours of judicial education for the 2022-2023 academic year. He did not seek a waiver for these educational requirements.
In December 2023, the Commission mailed a Letter of Inquiry to Judge Perez, requesting a written response by January 5, 2024. However, he did not reply. A follow-up occurred on February 14, 2024, when the Commission contacted his law firm and spoke with his legal assistant, who provided Judge Perez’s email address. The Letter of Inquiry was subsequently emailed to him, with a new deadline for response set for February 23, 2024.
On February 15, 2024, the legal assistant informed the Commission that Judge Perez had discussed the inquiry with him. According to the assistant, Judge Perez explained that he had not completed his judicial education due to minimal assignments as a judge, as he was receiving more business from his law firm. He eventually ceased to serve as an associate judge but did not formally resign from his position as an alternate judge.
During his testimony, Judge Perez acknowledged his role as an alternate judge in Port Isabel and mentioned that he had only been called to serve once in Laguna Vista. He stated that he had not been made aware of the Letter of Inquiry or the need to respond until informed by his assistant.
Judge Perez expressed regret for not completing the required judicial education and stated he no longer wished to serve as a judge. However, he indicated he would be willing to assist if either city sought his help in the future.
The Commission’s findings were grounded in several relevant standards. Canon 2A of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct mandates that judges comply with the law, while Canon 3B(2) requires judges to maintain professional competence in the law. Additionally, Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution prohibits judges from engaging in conduct that is inconsistent with their duties or that discredits the judiciary.
The Commission determined that Judge Perez’s failure to complete his educational requirements and to cooperate with the investigation constituted “willful or persistent conduct” inconsistent with the proper performance of his duties. This conduct was deemed to cast public discredit upon the judiciary.
In conclusion, the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished Judge Perez for his actions, emphasizing the importance of compliance with judicial education requirements and cooperation with oversight bodies.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
