1. ETHICS IN PUBLIC SERVICE
South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association
2019 Annual Conference
San Antonio, TX

2. PRESENTED BY SEANA WILLING Chief Disciplinary Counsel
State Bar of Texas

3. ETHICS IN PUBLIC SERVICE: OXYMORON?

4. GOT ETHICS?
“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.”
Justice Potter Stewart
United States Supreme Court

5. CONDUCT THAT ERODES PUBLIC TRUST/BRINGS PUBLIC DISCREDIT
CRIMINAL CONDUCT
CONDUCT THAT VIOLATES OTHER LAWS
UNETHICAL CONDUCT
APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY

6. CRIMINAL CONDUCT ABUSE OF OFFICE BRIBERY AND CORRUPT INFLUENCE
ABUSE OF OFFICIAL CAPACITY
COERSION
OFFICIAL OPPRESSION
TAMPERING WITH WITNESS
MISUSE OF OFFICIAL INFORMATION
GIFT
HONORARIUM
OBSTRUCTION OR RETALIATION

7. CRIMINAL CONDUCT
ELECTION CODE VIOLATIONS (Yes…criminal offenses in most cases)
OPEN MEETINGS VIOLATIONS
FRAUD, THEFT, AND OTHER CRIMES OF MORAL TURPITUDE
TAMPERING WITH GOVERNMENT RECORD
PERJURY
DWI/DUI/PUBLIC INTOXICATION

8. CONDUCT THAT VIOLATES OTHER LAWS
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
DISCRIMINATION
RETALIATION

9. UNETHICAL CONDUCT VIOLATION OF CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT
VIOLATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
FAILURE TO DISQUALIFY/RECUSE WHEN APPROPRIATE

10. APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY
CONDUCT MAY NOT BE ILLEGAL OR UNETHICAL PER SE, BUT APPEARS TO THE PUBLIC TO BE IMPROPER
INFLAMATORY/CONTROVERSIAL POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
LOSING PATIENCE/TEMPER AND/OR USING PROFANITY OR DEROGATORY LANGUAGE DURING PUBLIC MEETING
CERTAIN POLITICAL ACTIVITY

11. CHARACTER COUNTS
“We judge ourselves by our best intentions and most noble acts but we will be judged by our last worst act.”
Michael Josephson

12. CHARACTER COUNTS Government affects us directly on a daily basis
Don’t be content with moderately decent behavior from public officials
Even a few instances of bad behavior from public officials can do a lot of harm