Ruben Becerra Admonished

The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and ordered him into two hours of additional ethics education after finding he used his judicial social media accounts to advertise his own private business interests. On July 27, 2024, Becerra posted an advertisement for Gil's Broiler & The Manske Roll Bakery, a restaurant owned by Becerra Corp., an organization he and his wife run. He also used judicial accounts and courthouse resources to promote a separate event, the "Classic Rides on El Camino Real" car show.

The Commission found Becerra violated two provisions of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, including Canon 2B, which bars a judge from lending the prestige of judicial office to advance the private financial interests of the judge or anyone else. The complaint that triggered the investigation originated from local investigative reporting into Becerra's social media activity.

Using a public office's own social media presence to promote a judge's personal restaurant is a direct, uncomplicated example of exactly what Canon 2B exists to prevent — trading on the authority of the office for private financial gain.