83S20500 BEF-D
 
  By: Dutton H.R. No. 106
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Texas
  Legislature has exclusive power to present articles of impeachment
  against a state officer under Section 1, Article XV, Texas
  Constitution, and Chapter 665, Government Code; and
         WHEREAS, Section 4, Article XV, Texas Constitution,
  specifically states that "[a] party convicted on impeachment shall
  also be subject to indictment, trial and punishment according to
  law," thereby allowing the legislature to pursue impeachment
  concurrently with another investigation or proceeding conducted
  under other legal authority regarding the same matters; and
         WHEREAS, The Texas Supreme Court in Ferguson v. Maddox, 263
  S.W. 888 (Tex. 1924), established that impeachable offenses need
  not be violations of the law, finding that "'the purposes of an
  impeachment lie wholly beyond the penalties of the statute or the
  customary law.' The Constitution, in relation to impeachment, has
  in mind the protection of the people from official delinquencies or
  malfeasances. The Penal Code, on the other hand, has in mind an
  offender merely as a member of society who should be punished for
  his individual wrongdoing. The primary purpose of an impeachment
  is to protect the state, not to punish the offender"; and
         WHEREAS, Judge Elizabeth Coker, Judge of the 258th Judicial
  District, demonstrated conduct unbecoming a judge by violating the
  Texas Code of Judicial Conduct; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives impeach
  Judge Elizabeth Coker, Judge of the 258th Judicial District; and,
  be it further
         RESOLVED, That in accordance with Section 5, Article XV,
  Texas Constitution, Judge Elizabeth Coker, Judge of the 258th
  Judicial District, be suspended from the exercise of the duties of
  her office during the pendency of her impeachment, and that the
  governor may make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy
  occasioned by the suspension of Judge Coker until the conclusion of
  her trial by the Senate on the impeachment charges; and, be it
  further
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
  Legislature conduct an investigation under Section 1, Article XV,
  Texas Constitution, and Chapter 665, Government Code, prepare
  appropriate articles of impeachment against Judge Elizabeth Coker,
  Judge of the 258th Judicial District, and consider those articles
  for presentment to the Texas Senate.