HOUSTON — The president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association is condemning Harris County District Judge Nathan Milliron following a viral video showing the judge berating a court IT employee, and claiming Milliron is now targeting a respected local attorney.
Brent Mayr, the association’s president, criticized Milliron’s behavior in a social media video Tuesday, calling it “absolutely inappropriate and humiliating.” The clip, which circulated over the weekend, shows Milliron angrily addressing a court staffer: “Don’t joke around… Get out of my courtroom… Find his supervisor, Jesus Christ, I’m sick and tired of this bull…”
The controversy escalated when Houston attorney James Stafford emailed Milliron asking the judge to apologize to the staffer. Milliron responded by accusing Stafford of ex parte communication — a one-sided legal communication — and ordered him to appear in court next month. Stafford, who has no cases in Milliron’s court, said he was simply expressing his opinion as a voter.
“This is a frightening, frightening precedent,” Mayr said, warning that the judge’s actions could infringe on Stafford’s First Amendment rights. Mayr confirmed the association plans to attend the April 10 hearing in support of Stafford.
The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct oversees judicial behavior, with authority ranging from private reprimands to removal from office. Mayr said anyone can file a complaint with the commission and suggested the association is considering whether to do so.
Former Murray Newman, also a past president of the Criminal Lawyers Association, said the conduct seen in the video is among the worst he has witnessed and that targeting Stafford was a mistake. He called Stafford a “distinguished, highly respected and well-loved member of our community.”
Neither Milliron’s office nor the commission immediately responded to requests for comment.
