Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Court Reporter Discipline topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JVCC committee recommends permanent revocation for court reporter Cheryl Dixon after contempt finding
Summary
The JVCC complaint review committee voted to recommend permanent revocation of court reporter Cheryl Dixon’s certification following findings that she failed to file records timely and a contempt finding by the Court of Criminal Appeals; the committee will send its recommendation to the full commission
A complaint review committee of the Judicial Branch Certification Commission recommended permanent revocation of court reporter Cheryl Dixon’s certification after staff reported missed deadlines, a contempt finding by the Court of Criminal Appeals and a history of prior discipline.
The complaint, filed Nov. 26, 2024, by Melinda Saucedo, JVCC compliance manager, alleged Dixon failed to timely file records and failed to notify the commission after a contempt finding dated April 9, 2024. During the committee’s investigation, staff reported the Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) found Dixon in contempt on March 5, 2025, and ordered her to provide her portion of the record to court reporter Latoya Young by March 25, 2025; a show-cause hearing was scheduled for March 26, 2025.
JVCC director Ronald Morgan told the committee that the Office of Court Administration issued a temporary cease-and-desist order in matters related to Dixon to address persistent failures to meet court-set deadlines; Morgan emphasized the cease-and-desist was intended to preserve the integrity and efficiency of the judicial system and would not, by itself, prevent Dixon from attempting to comply with court orders or completing outstanding records.
Staff findings and recommendation Prosecutors and staff presented findings that Dixon committed multiple violations of the JVCC code of ethics (sections cited in the backup materials included 4(b)(1), 7(d), 7(e), 5(a), 5(b) and 10(f)). Citing the alleged conduct and Dixon’s prior disciplinary history, staff recommended permanent revocation of Dixon’s court-reporter certification. The committee moved to accept the prosecutor’s recommended violations and sanction and voted to forward that recommendation to the full JVCC commission for final action.
Dixon’s remarks Cheryl Dixon told the committee she planned to file the outstanding record and described a heavy workload on a death-penalty appeal she said involved about 45 volumes. She described medical problems in her hand and scheduled surgery, and told the committee she had timely filed an extension for at least one matter and that she planned to complete the filings by the court-ordered date. In the meeting she said, “I’m working on it. I’m gonna get it filed, by the 25th.” She also described procedural confusion about notices and a prior probation that she said followed an earlier proceeding.
Committee questions and vote Committee members asked Dixon about the Marks death-penalty appeal and the number of volumes outstanding, and about the timing of extension requests; members also noted Dixon’s prior probationary status and that the violations accrued while she was under probation. After discussion the committee moved and seconded a motion accepting the prosecutor’s recommendation for permanent revocation and voted to forward that recommendation to the JVCC commission. Dixon was told she will receive written notification of the committee’s recommendation and of next steps in the process.
Next steps The committee’s recommendation is advisory to the full Judicial Branch Certification Commission, which must formally vote on any revocation. Dixon will receive a notice of the committee’s recommendation and instructions for how to submit a written response or request a contested proceeding per JVCC procedures.
