Judge in case against indicted Hidalgo staffers: 'I sua sponte recuse myself'

The presiding judge in the criminal case against three senior staffers in Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's office has recused herself, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported. According to the station, Judge Natalia Cornelio of the 351st Criminal Court submitted her recusal on Wednesday (April 20).

"As the judge presiding over this matter, I remain able to base any decisions in this matter on the facts as they develop, and I remain able to render a fair and impartial judgment," Cornelio said in her filing. "Nonetheless, so that the state of Texas, the Defendant and the public will maintain trust in the judiciary, and to avoid any appearance of impropriety, I sua sponte recuse myself."

According to KTRK, Cornelio's recusal stemmed from working with Wallis Nader, the county judge's deputy policy director, at the Texas Civil Rights Project in 2018, as well as her time as a staffer for Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, which would have made it possible for her to frequently interact with Hidalgo's senior staffers.

Cornelio, a Democrat, was elected to the 351st District Court in 2020, per KTRK. 

The station reported that Hidalgo endorsed Cornelio in the contest and Felicity Pereyra, who heads the firm that initially won the contract, made a $100 donation to Cornelio's campaign.

Harris County District Attorney's Office spokesperson Dane Schiller said in a statement that Cornelio made the right move.

"Given the judge's close relationship to at least one of the defendants, a recusal is appropriate; our work continues," Schiller said in the release, according to KTRK.