A Texas judge, Nathan Milliron, has found himself the subject of controversy after a video emerged showing him berating an IT employee during a courtroom incident. Attorney James Stafford, who pushed for an apology from Milliron, shared his concerns following the incident on Reddit, where both men discussed the judge’s behavior. Stafford’s email reflected a hope that Milliron simply had a bad day, noting, “This is not your typical judge temperament.”
In a rather defensive response, Milliron accused Stafford of “unilateral” communication and summoned him to court, indicating that such ex parte communication—where one party contacts a judge without the other’s knowledge—was inappropriate. Milliron instructed Stafford to appear in court on April 10, 2026, at 8 a.m. for further dialogue.
Stafford replied, contending that since there was no ongoing case involving them, his emails were not one-sided but rather a form of free speech regarding the judge’s treatment of the IT employee. He later stated he would not comply with the court summons, standing firm that his criticisms did not constitute unilateral action.
This all kicked off after the video showing Milliron losing his temper with an IT staff member surfaced online. The judge became noticeably upset when the technician referred to an audio problem as a “false alarm.” Despite efforts from the staff to lighten the mood, Milliron’s frustration intensified, culminating in his off-camera demand to find a superior and a vocal expression of his exhaustion with the situation.
As public interest grew, a second video came to light, depicting Milliron in another heated exchange with a defense attorney during a separate hearing. In that instance, he dismissed the attorney in the middle of her presentation, showing little patience for the overlapping legal issues at hand. At one point, he even threatened to have her removed from the courtroom, indicating he was on edge.
Milliron has held his position in the 215th District Court since January 2025. While his conduct has drawn significant public backlash, he is shielded from disciplinary measures by his status as an elected judge. Civil Court Administrative Judge Lavea Collier has acknowledged awareness of the video and expressed commitment to maintaining the integrity of the judicial process.
