Nathan Milliron, a Texas judge serving on Harris County’s 2015th District Court, recently went viral for acting rudely to an IT employee in court.
After the encounter spread on social media, Houston attorney James Stafford wrote Judge Milliron an email, urging him to apologize to the technician.
In response, the judge reportedly accused him of unlawful communications and asked to see him at court.
Highlights
- Texas Judge Nathan Milliron recently went viral for snapping at a male IT employee who was helping him with a technical issue in court.
- After James Stafford, a veteran defense lawyer, called him out over email, Judge Milliron ordered him to appear in court.
- Milliron faced severe backlash online and from members of the U.S. legal system as past instances of his discourteous behavior surfaced.
“This judge is a perfect example of why we need term limits and real accountability for black-robed tyrants who think they're untouchable kings,” one user reacted to the email exchange.
Judge Nathan Milliron lost his temper at an IT worker and cursed in court
Image credits: Court Disorder
On April 1, a video surfaced online showing Judge Nathan Milliron snapping at a male IT technician who was helping him with a minor audio issue.
After resolving the glitch, the employee joked that it was a “false alarm.”
“No, it wasn’t a false alarm,” Judge Milliron said, raising his voice. “Don’t joke around. I’m serious about this. It was happening.”
“Get out of my courtroom,” the judge continued, berating the technician. “Find your supervisor.”
Image credits: Nathan J. Milliron
As the IT worker left, Milliron was heard saying, “I am sick and tired of this bullsh*t today.”
While the employee’s name was not revealed in the reports, ABC13 Houston confirmed that the employee works at the court’s administrative department and spends his days fixing computer issues.
Milliron was elected as a district judge in 2024, according to People Magazine.
Image credits: WFAA
A Click2Houston report said that Milliron is listed as delinquent on two separate required filings found in the Texas Ethics Commission records, including both campaign finance and personal financial disclosure reports. He is reportedly facing a combined $1,500 in civil penalties.
Judge Nathan Milliron ordered an attorney to appear in court for criticizing his behavior
Image credits: WFAA
According to reports from Houston Public Media and several other local outlets, criminal defense attorney James Stafford emailed Judge Milliron after watching the video online.
“I hope you issued [the IT employee] an apology for the way you treated him,” Stafford wrote. “I hope you were just having a bad day, and this is not your typical judicial temperament. Have a great weekend.”
In response, Judge Milliron accused Stafford of “ex parte,” a legal term that refers to the act of contacting a judge privately about a case without the other side being included, and commanded him to appear in court.
Image credits: Rightanglenews
“You probably shouldn’t be communicating with a Judge, ex parte, on his judicial e-mail address,” Milliron wrote back. “As an officer of this Court, you are ORDERED to appear before this Court on April 10, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. to discuss further.”
He later rescheduled the appointment to April 9, stating that he forgot the courthouse would be closed on April 10.
“I was not an ex parte, because I do not have any cases in this court,” Stafford responded, claiming that his email was him exercising freedom of speech. “There was nothing inappropriate. And it wasn’t an ex parte communication.”
According to the American Bar Association, a judge is not allowed to “initiate, permit, or consider ex parte communications, or consider other communications made to the judge outside the presence of the parties or their lawyers, concerning a pending or impending matter,” with certain exceptions.
Lawyers, judges, and netizens called out Judge Milliron for his actions
Image credits: WFAA
Judge Milliron was blasted by civilians and fellow keepers of justice.
“An utter disgrace to the bench,” one person wrote on X. Another said, “Emotionally damaged and needs a psychiatric evaluation STAT.”
Image credits: WFAA
“He was definitely picked on in school, and now that he has power and is in control, everyone is gonna pay,” a third speculated.
“How can one believe in a justice system when you have such frickels sitting on these esteemed chairs,” said a fourth.
“Texas governance is at a breaking point if Judge Milliron’s ab*se of power goes unchecked,” a fifth commented.
Retired judge Mike Schneider shared his two cents on the matter with ABC13 Houston: “There are codes for lawyers, there are also codes for judges. Judges are required to be patient, dignified, and courteous to anyone.”
Brent Mayr, president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA), called the judge’s behavior “appalling.”
Image credits: Nathan J. Milliron
“This is a frightening, frightening precedent," Mayr said in a video statement.
He added that if Stafford were forced to appear in court over the email, he would not be alone:
“The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association will be there in support of James and in support of our valuable constitutional rights, including our First Amendment right to free speech that thousands of people like you are exercising by calling this judge out for his bad behavior.”
Past emails shed light on Judge Nathan Milliron’s tendency to treat staff with disrespect
Image credits: Nathan J. Milliron
This week’s incident was apparently not the first time Judge Milliron had been discourteous to other employees.
KPRC 2 obtained emails Milliron sent to District Clerk Marilyn Burgess in 2025, expressing frustration with the District Clerk’s Office (DCO).
Image credits: KPRC2
“My Court will no longer be stagnant because of DCO’s ineptitude,” the judge wrote in an email dated May 10, 2025. “THIS IS NO LONGER AN ASK. GET ME A CLERK THAT RESPONDS TO ME and does the job!”
“I hear there are some statutes that will allow what I am asking for… don’t make me use them, I will if I have to,” he continued.
In another email dated August 12, 2025, he wrote to Burgess, demanding an update on the “clerk status” and addressed an individual named Lisa.
“Lisa, you got an e-mail today, right? Own it,” he wrote. “I’m the District Judge, and you are absolutely a subordinate. You have someone who wants to be in the 215th. You can’t stomach it, right? I will.”
“Lisa, you probably heard something that you didn’t advance, right? I probably have the e-mail you got. I’m much smarter than you… Mariyah is assigned to me immediately.”
"Step down." Netizens called for the judge to be removed from his position
