A West Texas judge is embroiled in a legal battle after allegedly exposing a political critic's sensitive personal information online, prompting a federal civil rights lawsuit and an unprecedented effort by a local prosecutor to remove him from office. Midland County Judge Terry Johnson is accused of posting a critic's Social Security number, driver's license number, and date of birth on Facebook, less than a day after the individual published federal court records related to Midland County.
Christino Rodriquez, who is known online as "Nino America," alleges in a 26-page federal lawsuit that Johnson retaliated against him for criticizing local government by using his official position to obtain confidential information and disseminating it publicly. According to the lawsuit, Johnson posted a 2015 arrest warrant on his personal Facebook page with the caption, "Convicted felon trying to be a player." The complaint notes that the charges connected to the warrant were later dismissed and Rodriquez was not convicted in the case.
The lawsuit highlights that while Rodriquez's home address and telephone number were redacted in the post, his Social Security and driver's license numbers remained visible. Attorneys for Rodriquez argue that these selective redactions support the claim that the disclosure was intentional.
James "Trey" Trainor, an attorney representing Rodriquez, told Fox News Digital that the case centers on "retaliation and abuse of power." He stated, "It’s kind of secondarily about First Amendment rights and the ability of people to actually criticize government without having government being used as a weapon against them." Trainor alleged that Johnson used an employee to access a criminal justice information system to obtain Rodriquez's information, and that the disclosure has left Rodriquez and his wife concerned about identity theft.
Trainor described the incident as "probably the highest form of doxxing that you could ever engage in by putting this type of personal information out there." The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as lifetime identity-theft protection and credit monitoring. Discussions are reportedly underway with the Social Security Administration regarding the possibility of changing Rodriquez's Social Security number.
Effort to Remove Judge Intensifies
In a separate but related development, Midland County District Attorney Glenn Harwood filed a petition on August 6 seeking Johnson's removal from office, a process initiated under Texas law for county-level elected officials. Harwood acknowledged that the petition must go through several judicial reviews before a removal action can be pursued.
Midland ISD Trustee Brandon Hodges has since moved to intervene in the removal case. Hodges stated his intention is to ensure the removal effort continues if a legal challenge arises regarding Harwood's dual role as district attorney and the resident who initiated the proceeding. Hodges emphasized that he is not adding new allegations but seeks to join as an independently qualified Midland County resident to adopt Harwood's grounds for removal.
Steven Villela, a candidate for Midland County Commissioner Precinct 3, publicly supported calls for Johnson's resignation, stating, "No elected official is above the law, and every public servant has a duty to protect the rights and confidential information of the people they serve."
Harwood clarified that his removal effort is separate from Rodriquez's federal lawsuit and that he has "no role" in that case. He also alluded to a "potential criminal case" but declined to comment further as no public action has been taken.
Trainor confirmed that Rodriquez and his legal team have been interviewed by a Texas Ranger, who inquired about the verification of the information posted online. Subpoenas have reportedly been issued to Meta, Facebook's parent company, to confirm details about the post's origin and viewership.
The controversy has led to public calls for Johnson's resignation. Johnson, who lost his reelection bid and did not advance from the March primary, is expected to remain in office until his term ends in early 2027, when his elected successor, Jay Marquez, is scheduled to take office.