Judge Stephen R. Tittle, who lost his bid for reelection to Hunt County’s 196th District Court in the March primary, received more bad news on May 21, when the State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a public reprimand of him. Two days later, on May 23, an appellate court conditionally granted a writ of mandamus against him.
Tittle referred questions to his lawyer, Kim Gustafson Bueno, an associate with Austin’s Scott, Douglass & McConnio. She emailed a statement, which read in part, “Judge Tittle is disappointed that the commission chose to issue a public reprimand. The Texas Constitution provides Judge Tittle with the ability to appeal this sanction by requesting a special court of review to conduct a public hearing. Judge Tittle is currently deciding how to proceed. However, the commission’s decision and any appellate action will not impact Judge Tittle’s current role as judge of the 196th District Court.”
