Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio returns to work after six months

After a six-month absence, City Court Judge Leticia Astacio is back to work.

Astacio, who cannot oversee court cases as she awaits her fate from the Commission on Judicial Conduct, has not been at work since Aug. 31. 

Astacio is presently on probation for an August 2016 drunken driving conviction.

The Commission on Judicial Conduct, which considers allegations of misconduct by judges, is now scrutinizing the conviction and other actions by Astacio, including violations of her original post-conviction guidelines. 

While the commission will not discuss its investigations, Astacio did acknowledge in testimony at a court hearing that she was the subject of an investigation.

The commission can recommend the removal of Astacio, whose annual salary is $173,700. The Court of Appeals would have to approve that step.

More: Judge Astacio pleads guilty to a probation violation in exchange for time served

More: Judge Leticia Astacio jailed without bail for allegedly violating probation again

More: Before DWI arrest, Judge Astacio accused of not regularly showing up at work

State Supreme Court Justice Craig Doran, the administrative judge for regional courts, had ordered Astacio to return to work. She had earlier said a physician found her current work — administrative tasks in a small room — to be overly stressful.

Doran said the request that Astacio continues to work was an effort "to ensure we are doing everything in our administrative power" to hold Astacio accountable. 

Court administrators are limited in what actions they can take with Astacio, an elected judge. She can be suspended, though would still be paid. Doran has tried to ensure that she continues working to some degree while receiving a salary.

GCRAIG@Gannett.com