The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a public admonition of retired Judge Laurine Blake, over her conduct during a judicial election and her communications about a candidate.
Blake, who served as judge of the 336th District Court in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas, retired on Dec. 31, 2024.
The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct based the admonition on her actions relating to the 2024 judicial election involving candidates Kyle Shaw and Christina Tillett.
Tillett won the Republican Primary election in March 2024 with 3,234 votes (54.48%) against Shaw with 2,813 (46.52%).
During its meeting on Dec. 3 & 4, 2024, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded a review of the allegations and concerns, including “allowing her relationship with Tillett and/or Shaw to influence her judicial conduct or judgment when she sent negative text messages regarding Shaw to inform and influence members in the community regarding Shaw.”
The full conclusion reads as follows:
“Based upon the record before it and the factual findings recited above, the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct has determined that the Honorable Laurine Blake, the judge of the 336th District Court in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas, should be publicly admonished for: (1) allowing her relationship with Tillett and/or Shaw to influence her judicial conduct or judgment when she sent negative text messages regarding Shaw to inform and influence members in the community regarding Shaw; (2) lending the prestige of her judicial office to advance the private interest of Tillett to win the primary race election for 336th District Court Judge when she: (a) sent negative text messages about Shaw; (b) informed and invited Tillett to community meetings, where she was endorsed by members of the community; and ( c) invited Tillett to serve a meal with her for the Getting Ahead Program; (3) failing to be patient, dignified, and courteous towards Shaw when she sent negative text messages about Shaw to influence members of the community; (4) knowingly or recklessly misrepresented Shaw’s identity, qualifications, present position, or other fact(s) when she sent screenshots attributing cases to Shaw which were no related to him; (5) authorizing her name to endorse Tillett for Judge of the 336th District Court when she: (a) invited her to attend community meetings with her; (b) allowed Tillett to be endorsed at the community meetings she invited her to; and (c) took a photo with Tillett that was published on the Getting Ahead Program’s Facebook page. Judge Blake’s failures in these respects constituted willful and persistent conduct that is clearly inconsistent with the proper performance of her duties and cast public discredit upon the judiciary or the administration of justice, in violation of Canons 2B, 3B(4), 5(1)(ii), and 5(2) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct and Article V, Section 1-a(6)A of the Texas Constitution.”
In a written response to the commission, Blake said, “she denies letting her relationship with Tillett influence her judicial conduct or judgment, as she believes her relationship with Tillett was professional and not personal. Also, Judge Blake denies lending the prestige of her judicial office to advance the private interest of Tillett because she believes candidacy is not a private interest but a matter of public interest and concern.”
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