Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine Faces Criticism for Impartiality Concerns and Partisan Comments

Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine is under scrutiny after a viral clip surfaced in which he suggested that Democrats are planning to cheat against presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the 2024 election. The controversial remarks were made during a keynote speech at the Texas Tea Party Republican Women’s 2023 Christmas event.

Devine, known for his conservative views and anti-abortion activism, has been criticized for his lack of impartiality and ethics. He narrowly survived a GOP primary challenge last month and is now facing state district court Judge Christine Vinh Weems, a Democrat, in the upcoming November general election.

In his speech, Devine also criticized Harris County for its election protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing the county of trying to “bastardize” election laws. He praised Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, for championing laws aimed at Harris County following the 2020 elections.

The comments made by Devine have sparked outrage, with Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee calling them “shockingly inappropriate” and questioning Devine’s ability to remain impartial in cases involving the county. Menefee urged Devine to recuse himself from Harris County cases moving forward.

This is not the first time Devine has faced criticism for his remarks and actions. Earlier this year, he was reported to have missed more than half of oral arguments before the court as he campaigned for reelection. In addition, Devine did not recuse himself in a high-profile sex abuse lawsuit against Southern Baptist leader Paul Pressler and his law partner, despite his past association with the law firm.

The backlash against Devine comes at a time when questions about his ethics and impartiality are being raised, raising concerns about the integrity of the Texas Supreme Court. As the controversy continues to unfold, the spotlight remains on Devine and his ability to serve as a fair and unbiased justice.