The noose tightens

On Wednesday I mentioned that Christopher Dupuy, the judge in Galveston County Court at Law No. 3 was under criminal investigation for using county equipment to assist his paramour in a legal dispute. Last night the Houston Chronicle ran this story announcing that the Galveston County District Attorney's Office acknowledged the investigation.

Dupuy has denied the allegations and claims that Galveston attorney Greg Enos filed the complaint with the DA's office for political purposes.

But the truth came out in a hearing the other day when Mr. Dupuy's girlfriend admitted under oath that she was engaged to the judge and that he provided her with legal advice back in December. Mr. Enos turned over a copy of the fax to the DA's office back in December.

The time has come for Mr. Dupuy to step down from the bench. He has made a mockery of justice in Galveston County. He has embarrassed himself. He is a menace to justice.

Whether his colleagues on the bench have what it takes to tell him it's time for him to go is another question. The longer they allow him to roam unchecked, the worse the situation becomes.

With the sworn testimony of his fiancee nailing him for using county equipment to provide her with legal advice (an ethical violation, by the way), the path to his departure may be laid out. Facing a choice between stepping down and fighting criminal charges would seem to be an easy and logical decision to make.

But, then again, we're talking about Christopher Dupuy.