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R E S O L U T I O N
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A RESOLUTION IMPEACHING CHRIS MORTON, DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE 230TH |
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JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AND PREFERRING ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT |
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AGAINST HIM |
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BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the State |
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of Texas, That Chris Morton, judge of the district court for the |
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230th Judicial District of Harris County, Texas, is impeached and |
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that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the |
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senate: |
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Articles of impeachment exhibited by the House of |
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Representatives of the State of Texas in the name of itself and of |
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all the people of the State of Texas against Chris Morton, judge of |
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the district court for the 230th Judicial District of Harris |
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County, Texas, in maintenance and support of its impeachment |
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against him. |
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ARTICLE I |
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While holding office as district judge for the 230th Judicial |
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District of Harris County, Texas, Chris Morton exceeded his |
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jurisdiction by entertaining writs of habeas corpus filed by, or |
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entering orders discharging certain state representatives from |
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arrest for breaking quorum, who were not detained or restrained in |
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their liberty in Harris County. |
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ARTICLE II |
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While holding office as district judge for the 230th Judicial |
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District of Harris County, Texas, Chris Morton violated separation |
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of powers, entertained political questions, disregarded explicit |
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constitutional authority, and demonstrated conduct unbecoming a |
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judge by allowing partisan interests to make rulings inconsistent |
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with governing law in relation to writs of habeas corpus filed by |
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multiple state representatives. |
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In all of this, Chris Morton has acted in a manner contrary to |
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the trust reposed in him as district judge and is guilty of |
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exceeding the authority of his office, violating the duties of his |
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office, ignoring the constitution, and violating certain |
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provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct. By such conduct he has |
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rendered himself unfit to hold office of judge of the district court |
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for the 230th Judicial District of Harris County, Texas, and he |
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warrants a trial and conviction, removal from office, and |
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disqualification from holding any future office in this state, and |
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the house of representatives, saving to itself the liberty to |
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exhibit additional articles of impeachment against Chris Morton at |
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any future date, if it decides any are necessary, requests that |
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Chris Morton be required to answer the articles of impeachment |
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against him. |