Saturday, May 26, 2012

Has Elia Cornejo Lopez Lost the Respect of Her Peers?

When the frequently brilliant legalist Bobby Wightman-Cervantes called out 404th District Court Judge Elia Cornejo Lopez recently, he cited three possible options to explain her aberrant courtroom behavior.  Bobby said Lopez was either a "co-conspirator with Armando Villalobos,  insane or dumber than shit."  Not particularly flattering words, Bobby!

Among Wightman-Cervantes' contentions were that Lopez as judge allowed an attorney to share damaging hearsay testimony against a defendent without even being sworn in, all clear violations of the rules of evidence and court ethics.  Bobby included observations that Lopez had lied to a jury pool, lied about her opponent's connection to the deposed Judge Able Limas and  was guilty of judicial misconduct in the handling Ernesto Martinez.

More insight into the character of Elvia Cornejo Lopez surfaced when she took out an ad in the Brownsville Herald attempting to link her opponent in the 404th district judge race, Rebecca RuBane, with the corrupt, now convicted former judge Abel Limas.  RuBane swiftly and publicly responded to Lopez' charges:

"I must set the record straight. . . my opponent has again run a political smear ad against me saying that I had a role in the escape of convicted murderer Amit Livingston, and that I am or was somehow involved in the public corruption instigated by Abel Limas and others.  To my friends, my supporters,  the public and even my detractors:  My involvement with the Amit Livingston murder case ended in December 2006, when I left the DA's office to begin private practice.   


The plea agreement and escape of Amit Livingston occurred in the spring of 2007.  As a private attorney, I had no involvement or participation or input in the matter.  I had no duty or obligation or MEANS to intervene in an agreement between the State of Texas and the defendant.  


This action by Ms. Elvia Lopez is a desperate attempt by an incumbent who senses that the tide of public opinion is turning and that the citizens of Cameron County want and demand better from their elected officials.  I believe the voting public is smart enough to recognize this as a desperate attack on my integrity and not a fair representation of my work as an attorney. 


Rebecca RuBane


Actually, several complaints have come in to Mean Mister Brownsville with respect to boorish behavior, despotic treatment of employees and inept handling of her court.  One message claims that a survey among Cameron County attorneys found Lopez the least competent court judge.  All of those impressions are simply opinions, not proven fact, and it's fully expected that Lopez will survive this election handily, but as these impressions mount, she may face a more difficult re-election next time around.

13 comments:

  1. the ad shows that Rubane and Limas w a tied knot of a rope..it further contains materials where Rubane was given many (more than shows on ad) court appointments..No where was a notation that she (Rubane) was involved w Livingston..Pull out the Ad Rubane, post it w highlighted areas as to where u (Rubane) see Villalobos name and Livingston. A failure and an attempt to sway the ppl..ur personality is beyond the scope of reality...u look like a bump on a log to say the least..perhaps, u could 1 day bec a Judge, but I feel at this time u need to polish up ur shoes (or boots) and kick up them heels a lil harder on the trail rides on them there horses..horses don't talk back they jus buck...(the system u jus might create and further corruption w/in Cameron County) Thanks Jim..U the best..:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is fair of Jim to give equal coverage to Rubane's point of view but Rubane falls flat. She is crying about an ad that exposed her as one of Abel Limas favorites. Limas is facing a prison sentence for judicial corruption, why should we elect Rubane to follow in his footsteps? Her crocodile tears have not convinced this voter.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We know that Booby Wrightman Cervantes is "dumber than shit", so his credibility is questionable. No sure, Jim, why you would seek to give him crediblity in this election. Does this mean you side with Rebecca Rubane, who most members of the bar believe is a total flake. Can't believe BWC....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wightman-Cervantes is not lacking in intelligence. My article has NOTHING to do with the election.

      Jim

      Delete
  4. That is one ugly bitch!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I say vote all the incumbanants, them back to work, Jimmy, they are all corrupted. I mean all of them. Time to put new people in the Hall of justice.

    ReplyDelete
  6. (We know that Booby Wrightman Cervantes is "dumber than shit)

    Would anyone just happen to have his number?
    /D-PM

    ReplyDelete
  7. WITH SO MUCH SCANDLE GOING ON IN CAMERON COUNTY, IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE BLOG AFTER BLOG CRITIZING ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE HONEST, RESPECTFUL AND FOLLOW THE CODE OF ETHICS? [GOD KNOWS THERE ARE NOT MANY OF THOSE LEFT, RIGHT???] IF ANY "ANONYMOUS" BLOGGER HAS NEGATIVE COMMENTS SUCH AS THOSE I HAVE READ ABOVE, IT WOULD BEST SERVED TO SUBSTANTIATE ACCUSATIONS OR YOUR PERSONAL SLANDER WITH DOCUMENTED FACTS = SOMETHING THAT IS KNOWN AS "EVIDENCE". AS OF THIS DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING OF SUCH.... "evidence"....as I termed it --- THAT REFLECTS JUDGE ELIA CORNEJO LOPEZ FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY OF THOSE "OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS" WHO ARE, SLOWLY BUT SURELY BEING PROVED TO BE, ACTUALLY CORRUPT. OTHER THAN LIMAS --- WHO SURELY HOLDS NO LOVE OR AFFECTION FOR THE JUDGE THAT RIGHTFULLY TOOK HIM OUT OF OFFICE --- (and now tries to throw her name into the puddle of truly corrupted officials) -- THERE IS NO EVIDENCE (TO MY KNOWLEDGE) TO SUBSTANTIATE ACCUSATIONS THAT SHE IS OTHER THAN A TRUE, HONEST JUDGE. ANY REBUTTAL???? IF SO, PROVIDE YOUR REBUTTAL WITH "EVIDENCE".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The comment above may very well be from Elia Cornejo-Lopez or a supporter too embarrassed to use his or her name. The fact that the writer misspells several words and confuses slander and libel does not rule out Elia Cornejo-Lopez as the writer. That was the substance of my original article; that she is not respected by her peers because of her lack of competence in the courtroom. I'm told she is semi-literate and the above response, if from her, illustrates that.

      Abel Limas simply identified her as a corrupt judge. His words mean little and will have to be backed up by evidence. I've heard many negative claims about Cornejo-Lopez which one writer claimed had been turned over to the F.B.I.

      The writer of the above comment(Cornejo-Lopez or misguided supporter) asks for a rebuttal, but since the comment presents no evidence, only hearsay, there is nothing to rebut.


      Jim

      Delete
  8. Jim Barton: I agree .. there is nothing to REBUT. Thanks for that clarification. And no -- THIS IS NOT ELIA !! This is a citizen of Cameron County -- who I thought it was you wrote your articles for. Or am I mistaken?

    ReplyDelete
  9. OH -- and Jim Barton: You are again correct about "one thing" --- everything in your BLOG is "HEARSAY". Thanks again for being honest - about that !!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why do you criticize anonymous posters and then not use your name? What is your fear?

      Delete
    2. I think that was Mr Elia 'La Marrana' Cornejo- Lopez, Mr B.

      Delete