Attorneys representing Dallas County District Judge Carlos Cortez in a family violence assault case want an emergency protective order against him vacated.
Cortez was arrested Dec. 28 after his girlfriend told police he grabbed her by her throat several times, dragged her by her hair to a balcony and leaned her over the edge while verbally threatening to kill her. The woman displayed several marks on her neck to officers before being examined and treated.
Cortez, who bonded out of jail Saturday morning, issued a statement Monday where he said his girlfriend was trying to kill herself and that he was trying to pull her away from the balcony. Cortez's attorney, Andy Korn, said the allegations made by the woman were false and that it will be shown in the proper forum that Cortez actually saved her life.
After the incident, a judge granted the woman an emergency protective order.
The order prohibits Cortez from being within 500 feet of his girlfriend's residence, her place of employment and the residences of any of her family members. The order also provides for an immediate response by police should Cortez be accused of committing an act of family violence, stalking or possessing a firearm.
Cortez's attorneys filed the motion to vacate the order Thursday morning and a hearing was set for Friday at 10:30 a.m. That hearing was later rescheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 7 and will be heard by a visiting judge.
Cortez, who is up for re-election this year, is charged with assault family violence, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
