Texas Judge Orders Step-Dad to Spank Girl in Court
In what could be considered bizarre behavior by a Texas judge, a Los Fresnos, Texas, family has taken the matter to court, civil court that is, to bar the judge from ordering further courtroom spankings and to have the judge permanently removed from the bench.
A Cameron County Justice of the Peace is accused of ordering a man to spank his 14-yr-old stepdaughter in court in the front of judge. The man was also ordered to use a heavy wooden paddle that the parents of the 14-yr-old allege was fashioned out of a piece of 2X4 lumber.
The mother and stepfather have sued the judge in civil court. They’ve asked the state district court to order Justice of the Peace Gustavo “Gus” Garza to cease and desist with the spankings and they’ve also asked that Gustavo be removed from the bench.
The girl was charged with skipping school. The judge ordered the girl’s stepfather to “spank” the girl or she would face jail time and a $500 fine. The stepfather claims he felt he had no choice but to obey the judge’s order and spanked the girl in court in front of the judge. After the spanking the judge allegedly told the man that he “hadn’t spanked her hard enough”.
How is it that a judge can get away with what may be considered corporal or physcial punishment of a minor in a courtroom?
We did some research as to what guidelines are provided for Texas Justice of the Peace, in other words, what they are allowed to do in cases such as kids who cut classes.
No where in the guidelines of the Justice of the Peace Manual did spanking enter the picture:
Education Code
A child commits an offense if he or she fails to attend school as required and is not excused. An offense under this section may be prosecuted in a justice court in the county in which the child resides or in which the school is located. [122]
If the justice court finds the child has failed to attend school, the court may enter an order that requires the child to attend a class for the high school equivalency examination. If the child is at least 16 years of age, the court may order that the child take the high school equivalency examination.
The court may also require the child to attend a special program such as: an alcohol and drug abuse program; rehabilitation; counseling, including self-improvement counseling; training in self-esteem and leadership; work and job skills training; training in parenting, including parental responsibility; training in manners; training in violence avoidance; sensitivity training; and training in advocacy and mentoring.
Another option available to the court is to require the child and his or her parents or guardian to attend a class for students at risk of dropping out of school, designed for both the child and the parents. The court may also require the child to:
perform community service; attend school without unexcused absences; or participate in a tutorial program provided by the school attended by the child.
Finally, the court may require the child’s driver’s license be suspended. Source – Window on State Government (Texas)- Justice of the
Peace
In fact, we’re wondering why this judge hasn’t been removed from the bench and not being investigated for child abuse. In our opinion judges do not have the right to order anyone to strike a child in the name of the state or the court system. To aggravate matters this judge ordered the stepfather to “spank” the minor child with a heavy wooden paddle in full view of the judge who then admonished the stepfather to spank the girl “harder”. We’re not even going to go there.
The state of Texas needs to “spank” this judge for an abuse of power and abuse of children.
By LBG
Source – Austin Statesman – Los Fresnos family sues JP over courtroom spankings
Image – Judge –
creepy
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This Judge needs to go to jail for a very long time. How conceited must he be to think he can get away with something so blatantly against the law. I hope he goes to Prison and gets what is coming to him… maybe even get spanked by his cellmate!
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That’s what wrong with society now. Parents don’t take charge of their kids now. The parents should have spanked their child a long time ago. The judge shouldn’t have had to tell them to do their parently duties already. Shut up and mind you business and tend to your own kids. That is if you even have any.
Cat
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DJ Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 17:28
U GOT ONE THING RIGHT, SPANKING/STRIKING A CHILD IS WHATS WRONG WITH SOCIETY TODAY…I’D CALL IT MOLESTATION…THE REASON SOCIETY IS LIKE IT IS TODAY IS BECAUSE OF THE MISTAKES OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT WERE MADE ASLONG TIME AGO…NOTHING IS SOLVED WITH VIOLENCE…SO GET OVER YOSELF
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Marine Reply:
April 5th, 2010 at 21:56
Ok wait now from what i am reading from everyone except Cat is we should not spank our kids? Dj what is wrong with you MOLESTATION? You need to look up the word before you spit something out like that. My god what has the world come to? Back when i was a kid we got spankings and went on our way. Lets look at it this way did the kids at columbine get a spanking? No they didnt and look at what they did, killed a lot of ppl at there school. How about that! Kids know right from wrong but it is up to us as parents to enforce these rules. I got spankings all the time and I am a better man for it. But ya’ll are on here crying saying he should go to jail. Well all i know is that he did the right thing. Judge i thank you for what you have done.
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Ryan Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 02:00
DJ, Marine, both of you should think about what you are saying before you post it. This is for discussion, not loudly showing off our viewpoints with no explinations.
DJ your post is hard to read, using all caps does not make you right, and it makes you seem angry and irrational.
Marine, there was no need for you to insult Dj for his opinion, it doesn’t help your arguement. Neither does bringing up Columbine.
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this is 100% B.S. He only told the stepfather to spank his 14yr old stepdaughter because he has a spanking fetish.
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sounds like texas and turture . W Bush loves that . the judge wanted to get off as well . Very backwards place along with very stupid leadership. They execute more people in Texas the rest of the USA. Sick
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Why do they execute more people in texas. Does that mean that more people commit crimes that warrant the Death Penalty in Texas, or is it just that their standards are higher?
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Judges are supposed to make judgement based on intelligence knowledge and the legal system.
Obviously this is not the case! This judge has embarrassed the judicial system with his neanderthal way of thinking! That judge should be barred from any service work in the legal system and should be brought up on charges of Draconian abuse of the power! he is a disgrace!!!!
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I want to congratulate the Judge for what he is doing… I for one believe that if a child is truant and refuses to obey the rules. Then child should be made to understand that there are consequences for not following the rules. I wish more Judges will follow this example; there will be less truancy and fewer kids dropping out of school. What the Judge did will in the long run benefit society by making sure our kids are educated and able to go on to college and/or get a job and not be on welfare with two or three babies. Yes, it goes this far, believe it or not, teenage kids are truant to go and have sex, use drugs, drink alcohol or something that is inappropriate or somehow breaking the law. I not only support the judge but I commend and thank him. Just wish there were more like him.
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