A Texas attorney who publicly criticized a judge following a viral courtroom incident did not appear for a scheduled court appearance, as members of the local legal community gathered in support of him, as reported by The New York Post.

Attorney James Stafford did not attend a Thursday appearance before Harris County Judge Nathan Milliron.

Instead, approximately a dozen attorneys affiliated with the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association filled the courtroom, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The situation stems from a dispute after Stafford called on Milliron to apologize for his conduct toward an IT worker.

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The incident gained attention after video footage circulated showing the judge berating a staff member who had been attempting to resolve a technical issue involving courtroom audio equipment.

 

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Following Stafford’s criticism, Milliron accused him of engaging in “ex parte” communication, which refers to contacting a judge about a legal matter without notifying other involved parties.

Stafford, who had not previously appeared before Milliron in any case, rejected the accusation and did not comply with the directive to appear, maintaining that no valid court order had been issued requiring his presence.

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Brent Mayr, president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, was among those present in court on Thursday.

Mayr said he and others waited for nearly 90 minutes for the judge’s bailiff to call Stafford’s case. That did not occur, and Milliron proceeded with his scheduled docket.

“The judge is not taking any further illegal action,” Mayr told the Houston Chronicle.

Despite concerns raised by some attorneys regarding Milliron’s handling of the situation, the association has not filed a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Defense attorney Wade Smith, who also attended Thursday’s proceedings, described the judge’s demeanor during the session as “very pleasant.”

However, Smith indicated that the shift in tone may be linked to recent public scrutiny.

“That doesn’t surprise me when he’s got a lot of eyeballs on him,” Smith said outside the courtroom.

The controversy surrounding Milliron began earlier this year when a video circulated online showing him raising his voice at an IT worker attempting to assist with courtroom technology.

A second video later surfaced, capturing another tense exchange in which Milliron confronted a defense attorney during a hearing, instructing a deputy to remove her from the courtroom and warning that she could be “cuffed.”

Additional attention followed the release of email correspondence in which Milliron emphasized his position as a “duly elected judge” and directed a staff member, whom he referred to as a “subordinate,” to complete assigned tasks.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Milliron has not issued any public statements addressing the incidents.

He has also deactivated his Facebook account, which had previously been used to livestream courtroom proceedings.

Although attorneys present on Thursday indicated that tensions between Stafford and Milliron appear to have eased, Mayr said the matter should not be considered resolved without further action.

“I think he owes an apology to the people of Harris County to say that, ‘Look, I am not going to act like this anymore in the future,’” Mayr said.

Milliron has served as judge of the 215th District Court since January 2025. As an elected official, his position limits the ability of local court administrators to impose discipline.

However, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct retains authority to review complaints involving judges in Texas.

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