Judge Frank Aguilar (screengrab via KTRK).
A Texas judge who was arrested on New Year’s Eve for punching his girlfriend in the face, then stepping on her neck refused to step down from hearing domestic violence cases.
According to court documents reviewed by local ABC affiliate KTRK, Judge Frank Aguilar hosted a New Year’s Eve party at his home, and at approximately 1:30 a.m., he argued with his girlfriend and another party guest. Prosecutors said that when police responded to a call from the judge’s girlfriend, they found her intoxicated and distressed with blood coming from her nose, red marks on her neck, and a welt on the back of her head.
According to reports, Aguilar and his girlfriend were having drinks with people who rented a room in the judge’s home when an altercation broke out. Aguilar reportedly became angry with his girlfriend, then punched her in the face multiple times, then placed his foot on her neck, constricting her breathing.
Police interviewed Aguilar at the scene and reported that the judge denied knowing how his girlfriend was injured and refused to talk further about the incident. Aguilar was arrested for assault and bodily injury family violence and taken to the Galveston County Jail. He was released on $1,500 bond.
Aguilar, a Democrat, is an elected judge in Harris County and has served in the 228th District Court since 2018. Following his arrest, the judge took a week off from hearing cases while colleagues covered his docket.
Harris County prosecutors filed documents Monday requesting that Aguilar recuse himself from at least seven domestic violence cases pending before him. Aguilar refused and is still currently slated to preside over the pending cases.
The recusal requests will next be referred to the Eleventh Administrative Judicial Region of Texas for further action. A representative from that judicial body declined Law&Crime’s request for comment.
Law&Crime reached out to Aguilar’s attorney as well as the prosecutor’s office, but did not immediately receive a response.
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