Texas judge accused of 'doxxing' political critic faces federal lawsuit, growing push to oust him from office

A Texas county judge is facing a federal civil rights lawsuit and mounting pressure to resign following allegations that he publicly shared sensitive personal information about a political critic. The controversy erupted after Midland County Judge Terry Johnson posted details, including a Social Security number, driver's license number, and date of birth, of Christino Rodriquez, known online as "Nino America," on his Facebook page within 24 hours of Rodriquez releasing federal court documents related to Midland County. Rodriquez filed a 26-page federal lawsuit accusing Johnson of retaliating against him for criticizing local government. According to the complaint, Johnson accessed confidential information via the county's criminal justice database and selectively disclosed parts of a 2015 arrest warrant linked to Rodriquez. While the warrant's details were redacted, the Social Security and driver's license numbers were left exposed. The lawsuit claims these actions were deliberate and aimed at harming Rodriquez personally. Johnson's actions reportedly included sharing the warrant under the caption “Convicted felon trying to be a player,” despite the charges being later dismissed and Rodriquez not being convicted. His attorney, James "Trey" Trainor, described the case as primarily about retaliation and misuse of power rather than just a violation of free speech rights. He emphasized that the core issue lies in the potential for government officials to weaponize their positions against critics. Trainor noted that Rodriquez is actively engaged in the Midland community, attending public events and voicing opinions on local governance. He suggested that Johnson's decision to expose Rodriquez stemmed from frustration over such criticism. The lawyer further indicated that Johnson might have directed an employee to access the criminal justice system to retrieve the information about Rodriquez. The exposure of such personal data has raised concerns among Rodriquez and his family regarding identity theft risks. Trainor expressed alarm over the potential spread of the information, noting uncertainty about how many copies of the data might exist online. Discussions have already begun with the Social Security Administration about possibly changing Rodriquez’s number to mitigate future harm. The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages along with measures like lifelong identity-theft protection and credit monitoring. However, specific financial figures have not been specified in the filing. Trainor mentioned ongoing assessments to determine the full extent of the impact on Rodriquez’s life and the associated costs. In addition to the lawsuit, efforts are underway to seek Johnson's removal from office. These developments highlight tensions around accountability and privacy in public discourse, particularly concerning how individuals in power respond to criticism. As the situation unfolds, attention will remain focused on the legal proceedings and whether they lead to changes in policy or practices surrounding the handling of personal information by public officials.