The Supreme Court of Texas on Tuesday lifted its suspension of the family court judge seen beating his then-teenage daughter in a 2004 home video that went viral on YouTube last year.

Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams had been on paid suspension since last November, when daughter Hillary uploaded her secret recording. The 7½-minute clip drew millions of hits and put Hillary and her mother, Hallie Adams, on the national talk show circuit.

While the video shows Hallie Adams going along with the beating, she now says she also was a victim of abuse.

The outcry led to an investigation by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, and the Supreme Court suspended Adams pending its outcome. On Sept. 4, the commission issued a public warning against Adams, questioning his suitability for the family court bench but stopping short of recommending his removal.

Next election in 2014

Since Adams waived his right to appeal the warning, his reinstatement by the Supreme Court was considered a formality. He is up for re-election in 2014.

The judge last year issued a statement saying his daughter posted the video after he cut off financial support and took back a Mercedes-Benz she was driving. He has since not commented publicly on the matter.

Linda Garcia, executive assistance to Aransas County Judge C.H. "Burt" Mills, said Adams had not notified the county judge's office of his intentions as of Tuesday afternoon.

"We just don't know what's going to happen," she said. "He could just come in. He's allowed to go straight to work."

Wife, daughter bitter

The statute of limitations had passed for criminal child abuse charges by the time Hillary posted the video. Both she and her mother have said the judge shouldn't preside over cases that include allegations of child abuse, family violence or assault.

"I've seen the legal system fail. I've seen the justice system fail, and now I've seen the review system fail," Hallie Adams said Tuesday.

Hillary Adams, now 24, said she was "embarrassed to live in Texas."

"The Supreme Court has no idea what it's done by allowing a mentally ill man to run a courtroom," she said. " … and they're going to hurt a lot more people by allowing him to continue in his job."

lbrezosky@express-news.net