The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct has issued an order suspending District Court Judge Regina Arditti and Justice of the Peace Sissy Hernandez with pay.
According to Seana Willing, the commission's executive director, commissioners issued the order concerning Arditti and Hernandez. The orders were signed Friday afternoon and took effect immediately.
In addition, said Willing, the commissioners amended the suspension order of District Court Judge Manuel Barraza to reflect the new indictment. Barraza remains suspended without pay.
According to El Paso's Administrative Judge Patrick Garcia, a visiting judge will likely be appointed Monday or soon thereafter to preside over Judge Arditti's court.
"People shouldn't see any difference," said Garcia. "(The process) is not going to come to a halt. It should be business as usual."
Meanwhile, visiting judge Peter Peca has taken over for Judge Barraza, who was suspended in April following his arrest on federal charges.
Judge Garcia explained the funds that pay for these visiting judges are allocated by the State of Texas to each judicial region.
It is now up to El Paso County commissioners to decide how to handle Justice of the Peace Hernandez's cases.
According to Elihu Dominguez, a spokesman for the county attorney's office, commissioners may decide to appoint a temporary judge or ask other JPs to take over the course load.
Commissioners are expected to examine these options on Monday.
Original story follows below
EL PASO -- A 34th Judicial District Grand Jury indicted District Court Judges Regina Arditti and Manuel Barraza Thursday on charges of nepotism.
Nepotism is defined as the hiring of a relative because of their connections to the public employer, rather than their abilities.
Arditti is accused of hiring Barraza's sister, Sally Mena. Barraza is accused of hiring Dante Vance, Arditti's son. He is already facing federal corruption charges. He is accused of offering to trade sex and cash for help with felony cases in his court.
Both face Class C misdemeanors, which are punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, and can be asked to relinquish their judgeships, officials said.
Sissy Hernandez, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2, was also indicted Thursday morning on charges of nepotism. She is accused of hiring her granddaughter, Crystal Flores, to work in her court.
Seana Willing, the Executive Director of the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct tells ABC-7 her commission will have to review the indictment and additional documents before it decides to suspend Judge Arditti and Justice Hernandez.
If a suspension is issued, the commission will also have to decide whether it merits suspension without or without pay. Once the commission makes a decision on the cases, they will notify the judges and county officials.
Willing said her commission does not have the power to remove judges and can only suspend them. However, the commission can remove the judges if they are convicted on charges of nepotism. Barraza was suspended in March after he was indicted because he is facing federal corruption charges, Willing said.
Right now, Arditti and Hernandez can still legally hear cases in their courts. They can decided to voluntarily step down prior to their court hearings, Willing added.
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--By ABC-7 News Director Brenda De Anda-Swann and Assistant News Director Carlos Rosales
--Written for KVIA.com by News/Web Producer Joe Villasana
