Two recusals from Special Court of Review that will hear 1st Court Justice James Patrick “Jim” Sharp Jr.’s appeal of his public reprimand

It must be a bit uncomfortable for an intermediate court justice to sit in judgment on a disciplinary action against a fellow intermediate court justice.

For whatever reason, two of the justices chosen at random by Texas Supreme Court Justice Wallace Jefferson to sit on a Special Court of Review to hear Houston's 1st Court of Appeals Justice James Patrick “Jim” Sharp Jr.’s appeal of a public reprimand have recused themselves.

An Oct. 16 letter from Jefferson about that matter doesn’t disclose why Dallas 5th Court Justice Kerry Fitzgerald and Austin 3rd Court Justice Diane Henson recused themselves.

Jefferson went back to the hat and randomly drew the names of two more justices to serve on the panel: Lana Myers and David Bridges, both of the 5th Court. Fort Worth's 2nd Court of Appeals Justice Bill Meier will preside over the panel.

Fitzgerald and Henson did not immediately return calls for comment.

— John Council