Mary Lou Alvarez Reprimanded

Mary Lou Alvarez, judge of the 45th District Court in Bexar County, Texas, was publicly reprimanded by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct after an appeals court reversed all or part of more than a dozen cases she had presided over. The Commission found Alvarez failed to comply with the law and maintain professional competence, violated the separation of powers clause of the Texas Constitution, and failed to perform her judicial duties without bias in her dealings with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Specific findings included denying a party the right to be heard in a family law case, repeatedly ordering the state's Department of Family and Protective Services to take actions outside her constitutional authority even after being told so on appeal, and building a documented pattern of disparaging one specific amicus attorney in open court while using county funds to help build her own defense. In response, Alvarez said she believes the allegations are unfounded but respects the Commission's decision, adding she will continue ruling in what she considers the best interest of the children before her court.