Five federal judges are under investigation. Add in the list of Texas judges with legal and ethical difficulties and we see that the judiciary in Texas and the nation are in the midst of an ethical meltdown. Has the crisis been caused by dominant one-party rule across all branches of government?

In Texas, voters elect their judges. This year, three incumbents on the Texas Supreme Court are up for election:  Wallace Jefferson, Dale Wainwright and Phil Johnson. Their court has been widely criticized for favoring corporate defendants 87 percent of the time — leaving the citizens of Texas uprotected in the civil justice system.

As we’ve reported over the last days and weeks, other judges on the court have their own difficulties. David Medina in connection with the arson of his home and questionable reimbursements for travel. Nathan Hecht for receiving improper contributtions. Paul Green for improper reimbursements.

Now Lise Olsen of the Houston Chronicle is reporting the unprecedented numbers of federal judges under investigation. All are protected by lifetime appointments.

U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent is the first federal judge to be indicted for alleged federal sex crimes, but he’s only the latest in a string of jurists to face misconduct allegations in 2008, for behavior such as frequenting a topless club or lying under oath.

Nationwide, four other federal judges are being investigated for, among other things, taking cash from lawyers, using an escort service, posting nude photos on a personal Web site and abusing power in court.

The flurry of federal disciplinary activity appears unprecedented under the modern review system, established by Congress in 1980, according to experts and official court statistics.

The investigations involve improper communication with people involved in cases before their courts, visits to topless clubs, pornography on personal websites. It goes on and on.

What’s clear is that there really is a crisis in our judiciary. We hope voters will pay special attention to court races on the ballot this year. Only citizens can solve the deterioration of our courts. Until we do, justice will continue to retreat from our grasp.