On Thursday, October 12, 2023, the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a public reprimand to Clyde Howse, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3 in Hondo, Medina County. The reprimand stems from sexual harassment complaints made against Judge Howse in May 2023.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Clyde Howse,” with case no. 23-0651.

The Commission’s decision was based on the factual findings that Judge Howse had sent Ms. Pope, a Chieft Deputy Clerk for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, a text message asking if anyone else would see her messages and then asked if she wanted to know what he was thinking about her. Ms. Pope became upset and reported the incident to her supervisor, who in turn reported it to the County Human Resource Manager. The Commission found that Judge Howse’s conduct was part of a pattern of sexual harassment towards other women and that his actions had created a hostile work environment.

The Commission ordered Judge Howse to receive five hours of instruction with a mentor, in addition to his required annual judicial education for Fiscal Year 2024. The mentorship will focus on sexual harassment and courtesy towards people he deals with in his official capacity. Judge Howse has 60 days to complete the additional education.

The conclusion states:

“Based upon the record before it and the factual findings recited above, the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct has determined that the Honorable Clyde Howse, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, in Hondo, Medina County, Texas should be publicly reprimanded for (1) his failure to be patient, dignified and courteous when he made sexual advances through text toward Ms. Pope; and (2) failure to perform his judicial duties without bias or prejudice and/or manifested bias or prejudice towards Ms. Pope through his words and conduct and his pattern of sexual harassment towards other women.”

Judge Howse’s courtroom is located at 1100 16th Street Room 203 Hondo, Texas, and can be reached at 830-741-6030. His info can be found on Linkedin.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.