Judge Roy Ferguson on Twitter She also called on Number 10 to reduce the tax on fuel to 10 per cent, or even zero for up to a year, to help motorists struggling with 2 a litre at the pumps. Updated: 15:18, 10 Feb 2021 Katie Davis Published: Invalid Date, WHEN Judge Roy Ferguson took part in an online court hearing on February 9, 2021, little did he realise he would become an. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Prior to his judicial election, Ferguson worked as an attorney in private practice since his graduation from law school, according to Ballotpedia. Judge Ferguson also asked that the footage not be used to "mock the lawyers, but instead to exemplify the legal community's dedication to the cause of justice". Simon Clarke, the MP for Middlesbrough East and South Cleveland, said: I think people seriously need to check their priorities., Ben Houchen, the Tory mayor for Tees Valley, added: Ukraines fight against Russia is absolutely more important than the PM attending a conference of Red Wall Tory politicians.. He is an avid proponent of equal access to justice for all Texans, and a frequent educational speaker to lawyers and judges across the country. When Judge Roy Ferguson opened up virtual proceedings of the 394th Judicial District Court in Texas on Zoom this week, he was not expecting to see two lawyers and a kitten. "And I cannot see the Prime Minister who wants to presumably to be Prime Minister for another three years or so is going to risk a massive rebellion of 80, 90, 100 or more.". He said he would remain as the party's "honorary president," although he would "relinquish any executive power within the party". Some call it 'devil energy', Teens hospitalised with vaping-related vomiting and seizures, as experts warn of 'Uberisation' of drug selling, It was meant to be a serious meeting, but Lizet couldn't remove her potato-head filter, 'Sorry I'm late, I didn't want to come': How being a little less serious can give you a competitive advantage at work, Reflecting on a year of Zoom meetings? Im not a cat.". Mayors should control 1p in the pound of the basic rate of income tax and business rate growth should be fully devolved to local leaders, the report also recommended. ", He added: "So pleased to have started a tweet that started the whole world laughing. The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. .widget-row.heading { They reacted with fury to the Prime Minister . .widget-value { "It is crucial that this not be used to mock the lawyers, but instead to exemplify the legal community's dedication to the cause of justice. Education Ever since news first broke of government staff partying during the darkest moments of the pandemic, Johnson has consistently refused to admit that the law was broken. margin-top: 1px; width: 250px; ", "Cat" Ponton replied: "It is and I don't know how to remove it.". background-color: #003388; Cat Zoom call Judge Roy Ferguson says 'we need more' laughs Ponton's purrfectly-synced kitten filter replied "Ahhh" in a thinly-disguised version of his heavy Texan accent. Four decades later it's stronger than ever, Lake Eppalock set to spill as anxious residents call for more help. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. If the Prime Minister does extend the deadline, he could face a 100-MP rebellion from within his own party, one MP has claimed. } Qualifications More info. Not yet. Johnson was fined only for attending one lockdown gathering in June 2020 a party in the cabinet room for his birthday, at which Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, was also present. } Denial will come in the form of promoting a sense of confusion around whether the fines relate to rules, laws or regulations. Who is Judge Roy Ferguson and why has he gone viral? It's done. As the video went viral on social media, Judge Ferguson wrote in a tweet: "IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom Video Options to be sure filters are off.". Children's CommissionSupreme Court Building201 W. 14th Street, Room 104Austin, TX 78701, Child Protection Courts & Case Management System, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, Statewide Collaborative on Trauma-Informed Care, Texas Child Welfare Law Bench Book and Bench Cards, Supreme Court of Texas Children's Commission. display: inline-block; He assumed office on January 1, 2013. This kitten just made a formal announcement on a case in the 394th (sound on). School districts | Since then a number of events, not least Russias invasion of Ukraine, have shifted the political spotlight away from the prime ministers predilection for partying. color: black; ", "Party politics, campaigning, being involved in elections, that is now over for me because I've achieved the one thing I set out to do: to achieve the independence of the UK. The Met must explain their seeming lack of action regarding this matter. The Metropolitan police are facing a legal challenge over accusations that they failed to fully investigate Boris Johnson's presence at lawbreaking . #WelcometothePartyPal" | Speaking on the Chopper Politics podcast, Mr Drax said: Fifty-five [MPs] is a large number, on the first occasion, and there are a lot more who would. Texas Court of Appeals I think the judge was amused, and he took it in good humour, and hes the one who posted the video to share a funny moment and caution people to make sure your kids dont have a filter on the computer when youre trying to do something serious. She is dreaming of a 'perfect' life in Australia, Ever wondered what it takes to be a police diver? Fellow lawyer H. Gibbs Bauer then put on his glasses and squinted at the screen to presumably see the cat-ified Ponton. Roy Ferguson is a judge of the Texas 394th District Court. Read about our approach to external linking. .widget-row.value-only.white { It had been due to stand 600 candidates at that year's general election - but pulled out of 317 seats won by the Tories in 2017 under pressure not to split the Leave vote. View our online Press Pack. "I'm prepared to go forward with it. (How-to for fixing the glitch is at the end.) "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 10, Kit de communication pour les institution membres. He tweeted: "IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom Video Options to be sure filters are off. "Mr Ponton, I believe you have filter turned on in the video settings," said the judge. In honor and celebration of the 1 year anniversary (or is it the 1st birthday?) A primary election took place on March 1, 2016. ", Farage: Brexit Party to focus on fighting lockdown, Urgent talks to be held over BBC star allegations, US allies troubled by cluster bombs to Ukraine, Twitter blue tick accounts fuel Ukraine misinformation, The new normal - why this summer has been so very hot, The fate of a protest that toppled a president, Ghana's batmen hunting for pandemic clues, How TikTok fuels human smuggling at the US border, Delhi's earliest crimes revealed by 1800s police records, The surprising benefits of breaking up. Robodebt was a scandal. font-size: .9em; Ferguson responded "I can see that" before then giving Ponton instructions on how to get rid of the filter. Mr Ponton told the BBC that it took a little bit of time to remove the cat filter from the call. Just Stop Oil deny protesting at Osborne wedding, Elton John ends farewell tour after 52 years of 'pure joy', Mexican journalist's body found in Nayarit, US-China talks a 'step forward' in relations - Yellen, BBC star faces new allegations over explicit photos, USA forward Rapinoe to retire at end of season. And now, #LawyerChipmunk has entered the 394th District Court! In particular, Mr Farage savaged how Mr Johnson has now reintroduced another lockdown in England. A new report by the Onward think tank warned that the Tories must boost the powers of regional mayors and create more of them to retain the support of the Red Wall. Elections in 2023 | Judge Ferguson explained that he has seen several Zoom mishaps since beginning virtual proceedings at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, including some colourful celebrations from people in court. If he isnt willing to accept blame, there remain plenty of other staff among those being fined who can carry the can. I thought: if that had been me, I would have been fined. The 56-year-old told the Sunday Telegraph he intended to step back from party political activity and election campaigning. font-weight: bold; A former judge, Sir Ernest Ryder, has been appointed as an adviser to the committee. Mr Johnson was due to attend the inaugural gathering of the Northern Research Group, made up of MPs whose seats the Conservatives won from Labour at the 2019 election. Roy Ferguson is the judge of the 394th Judicial District of Texas. Other Tory MPs attending the gathering at Doncaster Racecourse also called on Mr Johnson to cut taxes and scrap green levies to help families with rising bills. @byDavidGardner. Judge Roy Ferguson presides over the largest judicial district in Texas, covering roughly 20,000 square miles and including over 20% of the US-Mexico Border. color: white; Despite the @Zoom. Amid Mr Farages resurgence into the political spotlight, the Brexit Party has risen by two percent in YouGovs latest polling data from November 4-5. In recent weeks, he has been able to refer to an ongoing police investigation as cover for failing to engage with questions on the matter. The judge helped remove the filter and the hearing proceeded, Mr Ponton explained. 1901), Lexpertise universitaire, lexigence journalistique. He said chairman Richard Tice would take over the party. } In a statement, she said: I have made mistakes for which I am deeply sorry. Carrie Johnson and Rishi Sunak: coughing up after their knees up. The judicial review is being brought by the Good Law Project, which has a history of challenging the governments decision-making in the courts, and Brian Paddick, a Liberal Democrat peer and former senior police officer. Judge Roy Ferguson on Twitter The video was posted on Twitter by Judge Ferguson, Mr Ponton said, and it has amassed millions of views. We wont stop until the full story is uncovered., A Met spokesperson said: We are aware an application has been filed and we will respond to that application in due course.. .clearfix { However, some civil servants who attended the same gatherings received questionnaires and fines in relation to those gatherings. At the end of its inquiry it will determine whether the prime minister misled parliament, which is potentially a resigning matter if proven. display: inline-block; St. Mary's University School of Law, 1994, .infobox { In this conversation. New on Netflix: what will you be watching this weekend? Mr Ponton said when he got on the Zoom call everything seemed fine while he was in the waiting room. Texas lawyer Rod Ponton showed up in an adorable kitten filter during the hearing on Zoom. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. After attorney Rod Ponton accidentally joined the call with a kitten filter, the judge took to Twitter to share the clip and poke fun at the mishap. Johnson will continue to claim that he did not knowingly mislead the House and was simply following the essence of the advice that he himself received from officials and advisers. He practiced in Houston before moving to West Texas in 1999. Nor has the Metropolitan Police ruled out issuing further fines in relation to events on dates other than June 19. Judge Roy Ferguson on Twitter It was recorded during a virtual hearing in the 394th DC of TX, and released for educational purposes. To serve on the district courts, a judge must be: *While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires. VideoThe surprising benefits of breaking up, Presenter photo claims are clear crisis for BBC. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals PM showed contempt for the North with no-show, say MPs as leading backbencher hints at running for party leadership. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Voir les partenaires de TheConversation France. Ballotpedia features 410,034 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. University of Sheffield apporte des fonds en tant que membre fondateur de TheConversation UK. Judge Roy Ferguson on Twitter State and local courts | crivez un article et rejoignez une communaut de plus de 167 100 universitaires et chercheurs de 4 665 institutions. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. .widget-row.Green { Meanwhile, the privileges committee announced it was now taking evidence on Johnsons knowledge of the activities in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office under Covid regulations. color: black; } They urged the Government to fix the fragmented and short-term approach and establish a new Mayoral Settlement, set up by the Treasury. Mine was a cat.". Separately, Kate Josephs, a former head of the Covid taskforce who received a fine over a leaving do in Downing Street during lockdown, said she was returning to her job as chief executive of Sheffield city council. Can France prevent tensions igniting again? Mr Farage, who quit as UKIP leader in 2016 before later quitting the party completely, set up the Brexit Party ahead of the 2019 European elections. Judge Roy Ferguson presides over the largest judicial district in Texas, covering roughly 20,000 square miles and including over 20% of the US-Mexico Border. He is clearly scared of voters, and holds his colleagues, and the North of England in contempt, they said. They are now five percent behind Sir Keir Starmers party with 40, according to the latest YouGov data compiled for The Times. Our scope includes all elected federal and state officeholders as well as comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population. Ponton in feline-form asked: "Can you hear me judge? Prior to his election in 2012, Judge Ferguson served Far West Texas through private practice in Marfa. This includes Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio Counties. The proposals are backed by George Osborne and Andy Street, the respective Tory former chancellor and mayor of the West Midlands, as well as Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham, the Labour mayors of London and Greater Manchester. All rights reserved. He said: "I know I've come back once or twice when people thought I'd gone, but this is it. We are determined that the prime minister should be held to the same standard as the rest of us., Jo Maugham, the director of the Good Law Project, said: We need the Met to be transparent about its actions and this challenge is grounded in a single, simple idea: for the law to have any meaning, it must apply equally to us all. I intend to learn from these mistakes and continue to work hard to be the very best chief executive I can be for our city., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. When Judge Roy Ferguson opened up virtual proceedings of the 394th Judicial District Court in Texas on Zoom this week, he was not expecting to see two lawyers and a kitten. SURPRISE! .courts-container hr {background-color:#f0a236;padding-bottom:2px;}, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Texas Supreme Court To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Businesses and jobs are being destroyed.". The Honorable Roy B. Ferguson - Children's Commission .widget-row.Libertarian { This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Here is the offending comment that earned it. Prior to his judicial election, Ferguson worked as an attorney in private practice since his graduation from law school, according to Ballotpedia. 394th District Court of Texas In a video statement issued shortly after the announcement from the police, Johnson revealed that he has already paid the fine, which relates to a gathering on his birthday on June 19 2020 in the Cabinet Room of 10 Downing Street. But he added he wanted to "go on influencing the debate" through the media and social media. Jo Maugham, of the Good Law Project, says people want to know why laws seem to apply to them but not to Boris Johnson. Johnson is facing a further threat over the Partygate scandal as the privileges committee, chaired by Harriet Harman, has issued a call for evidence of what the prime minister knew about the parties as part of its inquiry into whether he misled parliament. } @lawrencehurley. The former MEP, who lost his seat at the European Parliament following Brexit, has tried unsuccessfully several times to become elected as an MP. However, he pulled out just hours before he was supposed to give a keynote address and later announced that he had travelled to Kyiv to meet Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president. US lawyer accidentally turns on cat filter during court hearing via Zoom. It is not clear whether these will be held in public or private. He practiced in Houston before moving to West Texas in 1999. Droits d'auteur 20102023, The Conversation France (assoc. .widget-row.Republican { After months of dodging the issue, it appears that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson did in fact break his own emergency laws during COVID restrictions. } They serve four-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving. background-color: #f9d334; Thats not the Conservative way of running a political party, he added. This document sets out various expectations about the conduct of government ministers when in office, including crucially in this case the expectation that any minister who knowingly misleads parliament will be expected to resign. In his letter to supporters, he said he "strongly believes" in the party's agenda, including changes to the electoral system and the House of Lords. Should economists bear some responsibility for it too? He has, for example, insisted to parliament that he believed one of the most controversial Downing Street gatherings to be a work event suggesting that if rules were broken, he was an unwitting participant in the breach. Key points: Texas attorney Rod Ponton appeared in a virtual meeting as a cute blue-eyed cat after struggling with technology The clip has gone viral on social media ", "There is no going back - Brexit is done. This fresh scandal is undoubtedly bad news that the prime minister could have done without. Bar all the noise and shouting, the partygate moment has probably passed. Both leave the prime minister on difficult ground. Judge Ferguson is a sustaining life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, a member of the Texas Bar College, and a member of the Champion of Justice Society. The judge who presided over a now infamous Zoom call in which a lawyer appeared with a kitten filter on says that reaction to the video is "all positive". We know the Treasury has opposed this in the past, he said. Founding Director of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre for the Public Understanding of Politics, University of Sheffield. Although the legislation passed by 516 votes to 38, Mr Johnson faced an inner-party rebellion from Conservative MPs. its inquiry into whether he misled parliament, originally issued proceedings against the Met in January. Boris Johnson and Downing Street staff at a leaving party for a colleague in November 2020. The SNP has continued at five percent, while Plaid Cymru has continued at just one percent. IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom Video Options to be sure filters are off. .widget-row.Democratic { I did not know that Zoom could turn me into a cat, and I did not know that a cat Zoom could turn me into an internet celebrity, he said. In re Perskie, 24 A.3d 277 (NJ 2011) (2/2)" in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1992. Judge Roy Ferguson @JudgeFergusonTX. In response to another question on which tax cuts he would prefer, he said: Looking at the way in which we charge tax on fuel is incredibly important.. The Treasury have had a massive windfall from this because of the rising price of fuel over the past few months, she said. "Judges are under "constant public scrutiny." By being there, the judge created an appearance that he supported one of the parties, and "flouted his judicial obligations and responsibilities." His "intellectual curiosity" was irrelevant. But he added: "I now feel I can do just as much to shift public opinion through media and social media as I can as a campaigning party leader". While there is embarrassment and frustration within his party, there does not appear to be an appetite for total capitulation. Led by the Chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady and High Wycombe MP, Steve Baker, the rebels expressed their concerns over the economic damage of the new lockdown. Nigel Farage: Brexit-backing politician to quit as leader of - BBC font-size: .9em; 10 February, 2021 11:28 A Texas lawyer who became an internet sensation after accidentally appearing as a cat in a virtual court proceeding said it provided a "good laugh for the country". She had been suspended from the role and was investigated, receiving a written warning for not having disclosed it to her current employer sooner. Each region is overseen by a presiding judge who is appointed by the governor to a four-year term. The 69-year-old Mr Ponton said he was not sure how the filter had appeared. "The new national lockdown will result in more life-years lost than it hopes to save, as non-Covid patients with cancer, cardiac, lung and other illnesses have treatments delayed or cancelled again. In his interview with the Telegraph, Mr Farage insisted he would leave party politics for good, after previously doing so and then returning. "These fun moments are a by-product of the legal profession's dedication to ensuring that the justice system continues to function in these tough times. JUST IN:Trump 2024! (Stumbled upon it while reading a @ThePoke article.) The key question is whether on all of those occasions when the prime minister has previously denied that any rules were broken he was knowingly misleading parliament. Express. That won't be reversed. He even took to Twitter to poke fun at the situation. background-color: white; Expect bluff and bluster until the wind has blown out of the issue and perhaps another surprise trip to Ukraine. Angry Tory MPs accused Boris Johnson of showing "contempt for the North" after he cancelled a speech at a Red Wall conference to visit Ukraine . width: 250px; Saying sorry has never been his style, and an admission of treating parliament with such contempt is almost unthinkable. DON'T MISSRoyal Family LIVE: Kate and William banned from signing autographs[Live blog]Barnier admits he must 'compromise' and hand UK boats bigger catches[Update]286 reasons why no deal Brexit 'is STILL better than a bad deal'[Latest]. Nigel Farage is to stand down as leader of Reform UK, the political party he launched in spring 2019 as the Brexit Party. He said he did not think, at the time, that it broke the rules. U.S. Congress | Who is Judge Roy Ferguson and why has he gone viral? His screen showed a gray kitten that blinked when Ponton blinked and spoke when Ponton spoke, but unfortunately, was not the most appropriate filter for Texas' 394th District court in Brewster County.