George Gallagher Biography – George Gallagher Wiki

George Gallagher has been serving as a judge for the 396th Judicial District Court in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, since his election on November 7, 2000. Prior to his judicial appointment, Gallagher was a partner at the law firm Zachry, Hill, Beatty, Butcher & Gallagher. Earlier in his career, he worked as an assistant district attorney in the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.

Judge Gallagher is an alumnus of Texas A&M University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, followed by a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1982. He holds a Board Certification in Criminal Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, underscoring his expertise in the field.

In addition to his judicial duties, Gallagher is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Tarrant County Bar Association, the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the Eldon B. Mahon American Inn of Court. His political affiliation is registered as Republican.

Controversy

In 2016, Judge Gallagher presided over the high-profile case of State of Texas v. Terry Lee Morris. Due to Morris’ disruptive behavior during pretrial hearings, Gallagher’s bailiffs advised placing a stun cuff on Morris’ ankle for the trial. During proceedings, Judge Gallagher ordered the activation of this stun cuff on three occasions.

The El Paso Court of Appeals later reversed Morris’ conviction and mandated a new trial. The court ruled that Gallagher’s directive to activate the stun cuff lacked a legitimate security basis, expressing “grave doubts” about the constitutional integrity of the trial. Consequently, Morris’ conviction was overturned, necessitating a retrial.

The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a public warning to Judge Gallagher, citing that his actions had brought discredit to the judiciary and the administration of justice, as per Article V, Section 1-a(6)(A) of the Texas Constitution. The Commission highlighted that the stun cuff activation led to Morris’ injury and his absence from a significant portion of the trial.