Parents Sue Judge for Spanking Orders

A Texas couple is requesting that the state prevent a Cameron County judge from asking parents to publicly spank their children in court, a lawsuit says.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by Mary Vasquez and her husband Daniel Zurita, claiming Cameron County Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace Gustavo Gus Garza ordered Zurita to spank his 14-year-old stepdaughter in court, the Brownsville (Texas) Herald reported.

The suit says Garza ordered Zurita to spank his stepdaughter with a heavy wooden paddle to avoid a criminal charge and $500 fine for missing school.

I did not feel that I had a choice but carry out the orders of the judge. When I was finished, Judge Garza told me that I had not struck (my stepdaughter) hard enough … Zurita said of the April 9 incident.

Zurita said Garza has called for other minors to be spanked in court Wednesday.