December 30, 2009
Houston judge resigns after oppression conviction, hospitalized
HOUSTON — A Harris County criminal court-at-law judge has resigned following his conviction of official oppression for trying to woo a woman facing a drunken-driving charge in his court.
Judge Donald Jackson's resignation, delivered Tuesday in a one-sentence letter to county commissioners, is effective Thursday.
A 28-year-old woman accused Jackson of offering her a better court-appointed attorney if she'd agree to a romantic relationship.
A jury convicted Jackson of the misdemeanor earlier this month.
The judge was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years probation, 200 hours of community service, a $4,000 fine and must take legal ethics courses. The jail term and fine were maximums. He's free while his conviction is under appeal.
Harris County Court-at-Law Judge Donald Jackson, who is resigning effective Thursday after he was sentenced to 30 days in jail for abusing his authority, has suffered a heart attack and is hospitalized, his court coordinator said.
Carol Cummings did not have further details about Jackson's condition.
Jackson informed commissioners Tuesday that he was resigning.
The veteran judge was convicted of misdemeanor official oppression this month after being accused of trying to solicit a relationship with 28-year-old Ariana Venegas, a defendant in his court charged in February with driving while intoxicated.
Jackson was sentenced to a month in jail and two years' probation but remains free as he appeals the decision. He was suspended by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct after a grand jury indicted him in August but still drew his $140,000 salary while the case was pending. His resignation is effective Thursday.
Because judges cannot hold outside employment, Jackson would have to resign to take another job. He holds specialization certifications in commercial real estate law and residential real estate law, according to state records.
