Angus McGinty
Angus McGinty was the judge of the 144th District Court in Bexar County, Texas.[1] He resigned from the bench on February 14, 2014, and withdrew his name from consideration for re-election. McGinty submitted his resignation after word surfaced that he was being investigated by the FBI. (See below) He was elected in 2010.[2]
Education
McGinty earned his J.D. from St. Mary's University in 1990.[3] He was admitted to the bar that same year.[4]
Career
- 2011-2014: Judge, Texas District 144 (Elected)
- 1999-2010: Attorney in private practice
- 1991-1999: Assistant district attorney[3]
Elections
2010
McGinty defeated Catherine Torres-Stahl in the general election, winning 51.5 percent of the vote.[1]
Noteworthy events
McGinty resigns amid bribery allegations
McGinty submitted his resignation to Governor Rick Perry on February 14, 2014, while being investigated by the FBI. According to an article in the San Antonio Express-News, McGinty had allegedly reduced bail for certain defendants who appeared in his court. In exchange, the defendants made repairs to the judge's personal vehicles.[5]
McGinty's lawyer, Alan Brown, did not respond to text messages asking him to comment on the case. Officials at the Bexar County courthouse confirmed that McGinty had not been hearing cases for two weeks before his resignation.[6]
On March 17, 2014, San Antonio lawyer Alberto Acevedo, Jr. pleaded guilty to bribing Judge McGinty.[7]
In his resignation letter, McGinty noted he would not run for re-election, although his name would still appear on the ballot for the March 4th primary.[6]
McGinty indicted by FBI
On June 19, 2014, McGinty was indicted for soliciting and accepting bribes from Alberto Acevedo, Jr. McGinty was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, one count of committing bribery, one count of extortion, and one count of wire fraud.[8] Convictions on all charges could have carried a sentence of up to twenty years in prison. The former judge did not comment publicly on the matter, but the FBI reportedly had transcripts of multiple conversations recorded via wiretap about the charges.[9] McGinty pleaded guilty and was given a two-year prison sentence in his plea bargain.[10][11]
See also
External links
- Official website of Bexar County, Texas
- Campaign Facebook page
- Express News, "Judge says it's time for 'a change' in DA," July 13, 2013
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bexar County Board of Elections, "Election Results"
- ↑ KENS5, "'It's not unexpected': Murder-for-hire plot targets San Antonio judge," March 12, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 San Antonio Express-News, "Judicial Questionnaire: Angus McGinty," 2010
- ↑ Martindale, Angus K. McGinty Lawyer Profile
- ↑ San Antonio News-Express, "Judge expected to resign amid federal corruption probe," February 14, 2014
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 San Antonio News-Express, "Judge Angus McGinty has resigned," February 14, 2014
- ↑ The Republic, "San Antonio lawyer admits bribing district court judge who has resigned his position," March 17, 2014
- ↑ Information submitted to Judgepedia via email on June 19, 2014
- ↑ KENS5, "I-TEAM: State judge resigns amid reports of federal bribery probe," February 14, 2014
- ↑ FBI.gov, "Former Texas State Judge Pleads Guilty in Federal Judicial Corruption Case ," April 13, 2015
- ↑ Texas Lawyer, "Ex-Judge Angus McGinty Pleads Guilty in Bribery Case," April 14, 2015
Federal courts:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas
State courts:
Texas Supreme Court • Texas Court of Appeals • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals • Texas District Courts • Texas County Courts • Texas County Courts at Law • Texas Statutory Probate Courts • Texas Justice of the Peace Courts
State resources:
Courts in Texas • Texas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Texas
