Delgado returns to bench

EDINBURG - State district Judge Rudy Delgado returned to the bench today, a day after a judicial conduct commission ended a more than two-year suspension order.

Lawyers and court staff welcomed the judge back to the 93rd state District Court during a morning docket filled mostly with routine arraignments and plea hearings.

The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct removed Delgado from the bench in February 2005, three years after he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and evading arrest.

The decision came after felony criminal charges were filed against him for allegedly fleeing from police and improperly using documents to influence a separate count of driving while intoxicated. The latter charge was eventually dropped.

But Thursday, a visiting judge dismissed all remaining charges against Delgado, paving the way for his return to the bench.

Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra has vowed to appeal Thursday’s decision.

If an appeals court decides to uphold the original charges against Delgado, the judge could be barred from the bench once again, Guerra said.

During the judge’s absence, former Court of Appeals Judge Federico Hinojosa was appointed to hear cases assigned to hear cases assigned to Delgado’s court.

On Monday, South Texas’ chief judge said Hinojosa and the returning judge would work out a system of dividing up the docket until Delgado could completely assume the bench.

Jeremy Roebuck covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4437.

Andres R. Martinez covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4434.