Professional misconduct hearings for a Taylor judge were halted in their tracks after the judge signaled he’d be stepping down instead.

Taylor’s 23 rd District Court Judge Joseph Slaven was expected in court on Wednesday, Nov. 5, for the start of hearings in the case against him, but on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 4, he sent an email with an attached letter that indicated he was retiring or resigning, said Lynn Helland, executive director and general counsel for the Judicial Tenure Commission.

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