Judge Who Referred to DA as "New York Jew" is Reprimanded

Accused of making offensive comments and holding a 15-hour court session without restroom or food breaks, a district judge in Texas' South Plains has been publicly admonished and instructed to seek four hours of training with a mentor.

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which is responsible for investigating judicial misconduct, issued the reprimand this month to District Judge Carter Tinsley Schildknecht of Dawson County. The public admonition said that in addition to the 15-hour court day, Schildknecht was accused of making offensive comments to a Jewish district attorney and an assistant district attorney. 

Schildknecht did not return a call requesting comment. 

According to the reprimand, Schildknecht called District Attorney Michael Munk a "New York Jew" in July 2014. In response to the commission's inquiry, Schildknecht said she called Munk that to explain that he "may be different from that of someone who has been reared in West Texas. To understand that leads to acceptance of the differences." She added: "I may be too blunt, but I am not biased or prejudiced against New Yorkers or Jews.” 

Later in the same month, Schildknecht ordered the court bailiff to remove Munk, saying words to the effect of "I don’t want to see his face.” 

In September, the reprimand alleges that Schildknecht told an assistant district attorney that his beard made him “look like a Muslim." Schildknecht told the commission that she did not remember making that exact statement, but conceded that the situation “seemed faintly familiar.” 

Schildknecht is now required to seek four hours of training within 60 days of being assigned a mentor.