Judge Andrew S. Hanen Issues Strong Order Directed At Corrupt Judges, Lawyers and Their Employees in Cameron County

Judge Andrew S. Hanen

ORDER
This Court has heard over the last two weeks of trial and throughout pretrial hearings a troublesome and disturbing tale of unethical conduct involving judges, lawyers and laypersons. 
This state of affairs was exacerbated by the fact that it has lasted over a number of years and affected numerous cases. This Court has heard witnesses and seen exhibits which show uncharged illegal acts and violations of: Rule 1.02, Rule 1.04, Rule 1.06, Rule 3.05, Rule 8.03, and Rule 8.04 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, just to name a few.
Some of this evidence was presented to the jury and some of it was not—sometimes by agreement; sometimes over the objection of the parties. In fact, defense counsel requested, and this Court felt duty-bound by law to give, an instruction to the jury to disregard these ethical violations in reaching its verdict.
The United States Attorneys and federal agents involved in the trial of this case are
hereby ordered to provide the appropriate authorities at the State Bar of Texas, Chief Judge Ricardo Hinojosa of the Southern District of Texas and the Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit or his designee a copy of this order and, if they so request, the evidence of the multiple ethical violations committed by multiple attorneys involved in this case. This includes the evidence not presented at trial and covers all attorneys involved, not just the defendant.
This Court has great admiration for the trial bar and the benefits that trial lawyers (prosecution and defense) provide to society. It is their vigilance, among others, that ensures that the system of justice works and that the rights of all Americans are protected. That being said, nothing can do more harm to society than an individual, (or a group of individuals) armed with a law license (or working for someone armed with a law license) that has no moral compass, no respect for the rules governing ethical conduct and no respect for the truth. Some of the acts or omissions may be considered minor; some may have been inadvertent. Nevertheless, there were some acts that were neither minor nor accidental mistakes, and the individuals that committed
these acts, in this Court’s opinion, should not be allowed to practice law anywhere.
Signed this 29th day of May, 2013.