A judge who ate for free at a law firm’s luncheon—and the next day awarded the firm $2 million in attorney fees—is facing a judicial sanction that claims her activities cast doubt on her impartiality and ability to perform her judicial duties.

Judge Fredericka Phillips of the 61st District Court in Houston received a public warning for attending a 2018 lawyer swearing-in celebration of the Houston firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing, even though the firm represented a defendant in a hotly contested case before the judge.