Washington Post Friday, July 14, 2000 Page A10

GUN-REPAIRING JUDGE IS REPRIMANDED

HOUSTON – A state judge has been reprimanded for repairing guns on the bench as he presided over jury selection in a murder trial.

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct6 said that District Judge H. Lon Harper “failed to act in a dignified manner” and “failed to maintain order and decorum in the courtroom.”

Harper said the time he spent repairing two single-action Colt revolvers took only a few hours during jury selction that took place last fall.

“Almost all judges carry guns. I just should have kept mine under the robe instead of outside of it with a screwdriver,” Harper said. “I guess I won’t do any more handgun repair on the bench.”

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