The Keller hearings

The current phase of the Sharon Keller saga may end soon.

Sharon Keller, fighting to keep her job as the state’s top criminal court judge, should know her fate soon.

After a five-hour hearing Friday, members of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct met privately to begin deliberating charges that in 2007 Keller improperly closed the Court of Criminal Appeals to a death row inmate scheduled to die later that evening.

The decision, to be issued as a written order, could come as soon as next week. The 12 commissioners can dismiss the charges, reprimand Keller or recommend that she be removed from office.

I say “the current phase” because unless the Commission votes to dismiss the charges, Keller will appeal. Anything is possible, and I know I’m setting myself up for disappointment by saying this, but I don’t see how they can possibly dismiss. Surely at least a reprimand is in order.

I say that in part because I’m hopelessly naive, and in part because I think the case for the prosecution, for which you can see Examiner Mike McKetta’s devastating PowerPoint presentation, is really compelling. But hey, what do I know? I’m just a guy who thinks that Sharon Keller is extremely lucky that she herself is not on the Commission. I’m glad to see at least one member of the Commission recognizes that.

Commissioner Tom Cunningham said he found it interesting Keller would argue that the “tainted process,” as Babcock called it, was denying the judge a fair hearing.

“Isn’t it ironic that’s what Mr. Richard was asking for?” Cunningham said.

Yeah, some of us noticed the irony a long time ago. The Chron, Texas Lawyer, and Grits, from whom I got the McKetta slideshow, have more.

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