AUSTIN – A district judge in Tarrant County is swearing off social media after several posts she made warranted a public warning from The State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The commission issued the warning and order of additional education to Judge Patricia Baca Bennett, 360th District Court, on Aug. 16, records show.
According to the commission’s findings, during the 2018 election cycle Judge Bennett made several posts to her Facebook page supporting candidates for judicial office.
She also posted the following comment: "Robert Francis O'Rourke. #fakemexican" about then-candidate for U.S. Senate, Beto O'Rourke.
On Dec. 22, 2017, Judge Bennett said, “Scientology is not a church. It’s an evil scam.”
On Oct. 25, Judge Bennett posted to her Facebook page a meme featuring an image of the Looney Tunes character Wily E. Coyote reading a book with the comment, "How to carry kids across the border…" followed by an image of Dora the Explorer, a Hispanic cartoon character, tied to a rocket and Wile E. Coyote attempting to light the fuse.
Judge Baca Bennett removed the meme from her Facebook page soon afterwards and posted a retraction.
During her appearance before the commission, Judge Bennett acknowledged her posts were inappropriate and that she had deactivated her personal Facebook page and would no longer participate in social media.