Finally Suspended

Commission Suspends Michelle Araujo With Pay
By Alice Gilroy
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct, on April 5, 2007, ordered that Lockney J.P. Michelle Araujo be suspended with pay from the office of Justice of the Peace and from the office of Municipal Court Judge for the City of Lockney.
The Order of Suspension was made after the State Commission was presented with information on the misdemeanor charges of Official Oppression filed by Floyd County Attorney Lex Herrington against Araujo on March 23, 2007 in County Court.
The ruling by the Commission stated, "Having considered the information, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded that the offense charged is a misdemeanor involving official misconduct, and determined that Michelle Araujo should be Suspended With Pay...and that such suspension should remain in effect until further orders of the Commission or an order of the court having competent jurisdiction over the offense charged."
The order was signed by the Honorable Michael R. Fields, Vice Chair of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
According to the Commission's Executive Director, Seana Willing, this order stands until the Official Oppression misdemeanor case is resolved by a "Guilty" or "Not Guilty" verdict in County Court, or Araujo is indicted by a Grand Jury on the Felony Charge of Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon.
Araujo was arrested March 10, 2007 for allegedly shooting her husband, Romeo. The case has not been brought before Floyd County Grand Jurors yet.
"Araujo is entitled to her day in court," said Willing. "If she is indicted the Commission would reevaluate this Order."