Judge advances District Attorney removal case one step closer to jury trial

EL PASO, Texas -- A judge has ordered District Attorney Yvonne Rosales to appear and answer to a petition to remove her from office, moving the case one step closer to a jury trial.

Visiting Judge Tryon D. Lewis issued the order Wednesday afternoon.

Under state law, Rosales has ten days to appear in court and answer to the petition that was filed by local attorney Omar Carmona on Aug. 24. Carmona alleges incompetency and official misconduct in his suit against the D.A.

The judge also ordered County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal to decide whether the State will prosecute this case or if they will dismiss it. Judge Lewis gave Bernal the same time limit as Rosales to make that decision.

If Bernal decides to prosecute the case, it will go to a jury trial. Rosales may be suspended from her duties as district attorney during the time of the trial.