Texas judge who lost election Tuesday releases juvenile defendants who promise not to commit murder

A Texas judge on his way out after losing his re-election Tuesday shocked lawyers when he released almost all of the juvenile defendants he was supposed to see Wednesday.

Harris County Family Judge Glenn Devlin, a registered Republican, began his morning by asking the minors if they planned to commit murder. Everyone who said “no” was released, according to the Houston Chronicle.

"He was releasing everybody," public defender Steven Halpert told the newspaper. "Apparently he was saying that's what the voters wanted."

It’s unclear exactly how many defendants the judge released Wednesday.

Devlin lost his seat to Democrat Natalia Oakes by more than 13 points and 100,000 votes.

All of the released juveniles are due back in court Jan. 4 — the day Oakes takes office.

Harris County made the news Tuesday when all 19 black women who ran for judicial seats won their races.