Press Release
-State Commission on Judicial Conduct

    During its meeting on February 18-20, 2015, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded a review of allegations against the Honorable Teresa M. Melendrez, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 1, Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas. Judge Melendrez was advised by letter of the Commission’s concerns and provided written responses. After considering the evidence before it, the Commission entered the following Findings and Conclusion:
    The Commission concludes based on the facts and evidence before it that Judge Melendrez failed to comply with the law and demonstrated a lack of professional competence in the law by (a) entering a judgment in the Perez case in the absence of pleadings, without serving Perez with citation, and without providing Perez adequate notice of the hearing; (b) issuing criminal summonses in civil cases; (c) failing to reduce her rulings in the Pardo case to final written, appealable judgments; (d) failing to afford Pardo or Perez the right to appeal the court’s judgment; (e) presiding over a matter over which the court lacked jurisdiction; (f) maintaining incomplete and/or inaccurate court records; and (g) conducting informal private mediations of disputes without proper notice to the parties, while excluding individuals from entering the courtroom to observe the proceedings in violation of the open courts doctrine. Based on the audio recording, the Commission also concludes that at the time of the December 18, 2013 hearing in the Perez matter, Judge Melendrez demonstrated an awareness of certain facts and evidence that appeared to have been provided to the judge from an ex parte or extra-judicial source. The Commission concludes that Judge Melendrez’s conduct, as described above, constituted willful and/or persistent violations of Canons 2A, 3B(2), and 6C(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.

(San Antonio)

Today, Pete Gallego announced that he will be running for Congress in TX23. "Taking on another campaign when I have a young son at home is not easy, but Congress is more broken than ever. Congressman Will Hurd has quickly become part of the problem.

A.D. Ibarra
-Precinct 2

    County Commissioner Rosy Cantú is reporting that she does not have fund to continue the necessary repair of streets in her precinct.
    "We distributed cabbage on Thursday at the office, and all residents of precinct 2 are encouraged to come by our offices at 253 Calle Ruela to pick some up."
    When asked about funding to continue the work on the streets and roads of her precinct, this is what the commissioner had to say, "Unfortunately, the audit is not ready and we are having trouble getting funds for our projects."   Precinct 2 is one of the most needy in street and road repairs as can be seen on roads such as Rosita Valley Road and many areas in Pueblo Nuevo and Loma Linda.

A.D. Ibarra
-Maverick County

    A Central American undocumented alien was arrested by elements of the Department of Maverick County Sheriff Department and handed over to Customs and Border Protection, after a chase across the city of Eagle Pass.
    Tom Schmerber, Maverick County Sheriff, informed The News Gram that approximately at 2:00 PM, deputies spotted a Ford vehicle that was traveling erratically and upon seeing the MCSO units, the driver sped away. Units began a high-speed chase by both Sheriff's Department and the US Border Patrol, and it was at the intersection of Veterans Boulevard and Second Street when the driver stopped and attempted to flee on foot.
    Law enforcement officers overtook him after he jumped over several residential fences. The vehicle was searched and revealed no illegal substances, however the case remains under investigation.