On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, the Houston Chronicle reported that the suspension of Harris County Judge Frank Aguilar had been lifted by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Judge Aguilar of the 228th District Court had been suspended with pay in February after he was charged with misdemeanor assault stemming from a domestic violence allegation. According to the allegation, Judge Aguilar had assaulted his girlfriend at his Galveston property on December 31, 2023, punching her repeatedly and placing his foot on her neck. He was arrested and charged by Galveston police in relation to this incident.
Judge Aguilar denied these allegations from the beginning. His defense argued that the girlfriend was intoxicated on the night in question and provided an affidavit from her where she retracted her original statement. In the affidavit, she stated that Judge Aguilar never hit her and that she believes she fell after having an adverse reaction from sleep medication mixed with alcohol.
Earlier this month, prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the assault charge against Judge Aguilar. They argued that while probable cause existed for the initial allegation, there was insufficient evidence to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. A judge subsequently approved the dismissal of the criminal case.
With the resolution of the criminal matter, the conditions for Judge Aguilar’s suspension were fulfilled. The order from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct specifically stated that the suspension would remain in effect until the criminal charge was dismissed. On July 8th, the Commission’s Chair Gary Steel signed an order formally lifting Judge Aguilar’s suspension in light of the dismissal of the assault case against him by prosecutors.
The lifting of the suspension now clears the way for Judge Aguilar to resume his duties presiding over cases in the 228th District Court.
Source: Houston Chronicle
