Docs: State district judge reprimanded for calling attorney 'mentally ill, corrupt'

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct has publicly reprimanded former 404th District Judge Elia Cornejo Lopez.

During a meeting on February 7, 2024, the commission concluded a review of allegations against Lopez by Attorney Reynaldo Garza.

According to documents, on October 1, 2020, Garza filed a motion for Lopez to recuse herself from a case regarding the modification of a parent-child relationship.

Garza went on to say that Lopez's impartiality can reasonably be questioned in this matter.

On October 6, 2020, Lopez issued a ruling to recuse herself but in her 120-page recusal, she made personal and disparaging remarks about Garza, according to documents.

Those remarks included that Garza was "mentally ill and corrupt" and that he violated attorney-client privilege.

On October 9, 2024, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct determined that Lopez should be publically reprimanded for failing to be patient, dignified, and courteous toward Garza when she purposefully made the disparaging remarks.