On Friday, October 10, 2025, the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded Judge Natalia “Nata” Cornelio of the 351st Criminal District Court in Houston, Harris County, for actions related to the capital murder appeal of death row inmate Ronald Lee Haskell. The commission’s decision, stemming from a complaint initiated in December 2024, followed a review of allegations, a written response from Judge Cornelio, and her testimony before the commission on October 2, 2025.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Natalia “Nata” Cornelio,” with case number 25-0319.
The commission’s findings of fact centered on a bench warrant signed by Judge Cornelio on June 27, 2024, to transport Haskell for an MRI. The warrant incorrectly stated that the case was set on the court docket for July 22, 2024, at 12:00 a.m., despite no such proceeding being scheduled in State of Texas v. Ronald Lee Haskell, Case No. 1434395. Haskell was convicted in 2019 of murdering six members of his ex-wife’s family and sentenced to death.
The inaccurate bench warrant came to the attention of the State after a survivor of Haskell’s attack received notification from the Texas Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) system regarding Haskell’s transfer to the Harris County Jail for a court proceeding. Subsequently, the State subpoenaed Haskell’s transport logs on August 29, 2024.
On September 12, 2024, Haskell filed a motion to quash the State’s subpoena. Judge Cornelio granted the motion on Saturday, September 14, 2024, citing concerns that the State sought to “invade matters protected by privilege,” without providing the State an opportunity to be heard.
These events led the Harris County District Attorney’s Office (HCDAO) to file a recusal motion on October 27, 2024, accusing Judge Cornelio of bias and misconduct. The Recusal Motion specifically alleged that Judge Cornelio knowingly issued a bench warrant with false information, issued ex parte travel orders in a manner that prevented the State from challenging her actions, quashed the State’s subpoena without a hearing, and exhibited a “high degree of favoritism” towards Haskell.
Following hearings and status conferences, Judge Susan Brown, presiding judge of the Eleventh Administrative Judicial Region, granted the Recusal Motion on January 15, 2025, removing Judge Cornelio from the Haskell Case.
During her appearance before the Commission, Judge Cornelio did not dispute the findings of fact. She acknowledged the inaccurate information in the Bench Warrant, explaining that her staff used a standard electronic form and, following common practice in Harris County, identified a docket setting even though the defendant was not scheduled to appear in court. Judge Cornelio admitted she should have been more careful and that it was her responsibility to ensure the Bench Warrant did not contain misleading information. She stated that she has since changed her processes, requiring both parties to appear before issuing a bench warrant, and indicated she no longer rules on motions without a hearing or confirmation that the parties do not want a hearing.
The Commission concluded that Judge Cornelio’s actions violated Canons 3B(5), 3B(6), and 3B(8) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, as well as Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution. These violations include performing judicial duties with bias, manifesting bias in the performance of her judicial duties, and failing to afford the State an opportunity to be heard.
The Commission determined that these failures constituted willful and persistent conduct inconsistent with the proper performance of her judicial duties, casting public discredit on the judiciary and the administration of justice.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
