Before the Presiding Judges of the Administrative Judicial Regions

Per Curiam Rule 12 Decision

APPEAL NO.: 12-004

RESPONDENT: Judge David Garcia, Denton County Criminal Court No. 3

DATE: August 28, 2012

SPECIAL COMMITTEE: Judge Stephen B. Ables, Chairman; Judge John Ovard, Judge Olen Underwood, Judge David Peeples, Judge J. Rolando Olvera

The Petitioner is an individual who requested copies of the following from Respondent: “all documents, including electronic mail (or other electronic communication), generated, maintained or retained by any county judge in Denton County regarding the creation, implementation of, necessity for and any other discussion or communication regarding the attached [Alcohol Concentration Stipulation and Verification] form.” Respondent denied Petitioner’s request stating that the requested documents are exempt from disclosure under Rule 12.5(a) (Judicial Work Product and Drafts) of the Rules of Judicial Administration and Petitioner appealed.

Respondent has provided copies of the responsive records for our in camera inspection. We do not believe that the submitted records pertain to Respondent’s or any other Denton County judicial officer’s adjudicative decision-making process; however, we find that the records consist of an internal discussion among judicial officers and court staff regarding a court administration matter. Thus, the responsive records are exempt from disclosure under Rule 12.5(f) (Internal Deliberations on Court or Judicial Administration Matters).

Accordingly, the petition is denied.