Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Through political action, legal, academic and market research, and grassroots initiatives, TLR fights for common-sense reforms that keep Texas open for business.

  • About TLR
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Timeline of Reforms
  • Videos
  • Issues
  • Resource Center
    • Special Reports
    • In the News
    • Press Releases
    • The Advocate
    • TLR Blog: For the Record
  • Get Involved
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Invite a TLR Speaker
  • Donate
  • Stay Informed
In the News

Dallas judge under scrutiny for bail rulings recuses herself from cases

The Dallas Morning News, April 13, 2022

Judge Chika Anyiam, of Criminal District Court 7, recused herself Monday from 10 felony cases against Julio Guerrero.

A Dallas County judge who faced public scrutiny for lowering a murder suspect’s bail — and later raised the man’s bail amounts — has recused herself from the cases against him.

Judge Chika Anyiam, of Criminal District Court 7, recused herself Monday from 10 felony cases against Julio Guerrero, 29. The cases were moved to Judge Amber Givens’ 282nd District Court.

Anyiam signed the recusal Monday, several days after District Attorney John Creuzot filed a 45-page motion asking that she remove herself from the cases.

Creuzot argued that Anyiam’s impartiality could reasonably be questioned after she lowered Guerrero’s bail amounts considerably while his defense lawyer is one of her top campaign contributors, and then raised his bail after media reports about her rulings.

Anyiam did not immediately respond to a request for comment. She did not provide any explanation for her decision in the recusal document.

Guerrero was arrested in June after a standoff with police in east Oak Cliff. He was wanted in the slaying of a 35-year-old man in May and a shooting a week later at a gas station that critically injured a 3-year-old girl.

In addition to the murder charge, Guerrero faces four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and two drug charges.

Anyiam lowered Guerrero’s total bail from $2 million to $510,000 last month after his attorney said he couldn’t afford it, but later raised bail on the murder charge from $100,000 to $600,000.

Anyiam later raised Guerrero’s bail on the assault charges, making his total bail $1.96 million — roughly the same amount he initially faced.

When Anyiam lowered Guerrero’s bail, she was criticized by local and state officials and police associations.

Gov. Greg Abbott called the move “outrageous,” while Dallas police Chief Eddie García said it was “a slap in the face” to police and victims.

Tom Cox, Guerrero’s attorney, said in a court filing that the judge’s decision to raise the bail appeared to be in response to media attention.

Campaign finance reports show Cox donated $5,000 to Anyiam’s most recent campaign. His contribution was the largest she received in that period, Creuzot wrote in his motion.

Follow us on Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

15 hours ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Texas ports are thriving today, but in the early 2000s, abusive personal injury lawsuits threatened to shut them down. As the Port of Houston begins a long-awaited expansion, read more about the common-sense lawsuit reform in 2007 that saved our state’s shipping industry in this week’s TLR blog, For the Record: bit.ly/3aeTy6n ... See MoreSee Less

Learn More

Play
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 1
  • Shares: 2
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

2 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Wishing everyone a very happy Fourth of July! ... See MoreSee Less

Wishing everyone a very happy Fourth of July!
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 5
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

Happy Independence Day America Today we celebrate our Republic 🇺🇸

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

5 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

In case you missed it: Specialized business courts like the Delaware Court of Chancery can be an important addition to a state’s economic foundation. These courts quickly and expertly handle complex business litigation, freeing up other courts to handle other types of cases. Read and share: bit.ly/3y7zwnI ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Making Business Our Business

bit.ly

Much has been written about Elon Musk—eccentric billionaire, CEO of some of the most innovative companies in the world and… future owner of Twitter? While the nuances of this deal are daily fodder...
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook


Follow us on Twitter

lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
13h 1544441042120089600

Sign up for the TLR Weekly News Roundup to receive a daily digest of headlines & news stories about #lawsuitreform from Texas & around the country!

Sign up for the TLR Weekly News Roundup!

Please use the form below to receive a daily digest of TLR Clips - headlines and news stories about lawsuit reform from Texas and around the country.

bit.ly

Reply on Twitter 1544441042120089600Retweet on Twitter 1544441042120089600Like on Twitter 15444410421200896001Twitter 1544441042120089600
lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
15h 1544407069297614851

Texas ports are thriving, but in the early 2000s, abusive lawsuits threatened to shut them down. Read more about the common-sense reform that saved our state’s shipping industry in this week’s TLR blog, For the Record: https://bit.ly/3aeTy6n

Twitter feed video.
Image for the Tweet beginning: Texas ports are thriving, but
Reply on Twitter 1544407069297614851Retweet on Twitter 15444070692976148512Like on Twitter 1544407069297614851Twitter 1544407069297614851
lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
4 Jul 1543988532720566273

Wishing everyone a very happy #4thOfJuly!

Twitter feed video.
Image for the Tweet beginning: Wishing everyone a very happy
Reply on Twitter 1543988532720566273Retweet on Twitter 1543988532720566273Like on Twitter 15439885327205662732Twitter 1543988532720566273

Texans for Lawsuit Reform
1701 Brun Street
Houston, Texas 77019

Ph. 713-963-9363
  • About TLR
  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Timeline of Reforms
  • Videos
  • Issues
  • Resource Center
  • For the Record
  • Special Reports
  • In the News
  • Press Releases
  • Invite a TLR Speaker
  • Get Involved
  • Invite a TLR Speaker
  • Donate
  • Stay Informed
  • Contact TLR

Copyright © 2022 · Texans for Lawsuit Reform. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy