Dallas County Judge Arrested For Domestic Violence
Updated 12.28.13 at 5 p.m. Judge Cortez's attorney sent the following statement to CBS 11 News:
Judge Cortez has not been indicted or charged with any offense. Judge Cortez will speak specifically to the arrest in any official proceeding that may result. The allegations made by the complainant are false. If necessary, it will be shown in the proper forum that Judge Cortez actually saved her life. Judge Cortez will continue to serve the State of Texas and Dallas County like he has for the last seven years - as an award winning jurist who handles his court with courtesy and dignity to all who seek Justice.
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - A Dallas-based state district judge is free on bond after he was arrested and charged with family violence assault overnight Friday.
Carlos Raul Cortez and his girlfriend of 13 months were arguing about the location of a child's medication, according to a Dallas police report, while at an apartment on McKinney Avenue. Both Cortez and his 26-year-old girlfriend were drinking alcohol when the fight escalated. She told police Cortez choked her with both hands, then dragged her by her hair to a balcony; leaning her over the edge and verbally threatening to kill her. A juvenile witnessed the entire incident, according to the report.
Cortez, a civil court judge since 2006, was released on $15,000 bond after his arrest Saturday on assault and family violence charges.
Police reported seeing red marks on the woman's neck.
A home phone number for Cortez, a Democrat, could not be located.
In September, Cortez received a Medal of Friendship from the Mongolian government for his involvement in a smuggling case where a dinosaur skeleton sale was halted.
Cortez has presided over the 44th State Civil District Court in Dallas County since 2006.
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