The State Commission on Judicial Conduct on Tuesday suspended Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal without pay.

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct on Tuesday suspended Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal without pay.

A grand jury indicted Doyal last Friday on misdemeanor charges that he violated the Texas Open Meetings Act.

The grand jury also indicted Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark.

They are accused of improperly exchanging emails concerning the county's $280 million road bond that voters passed in November.

"It is a rare thing for the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to suspend somebody, because they only take that action when they are uniformly convinced that something is definitely wrong," said Brandon Rottinghaus, who teaches political science at the University of Houston. "They typically use public sanctions, or private sanctions as a mechanism to try to coerce the individual involved to change their ways."

Punishment for the charge is up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.

If convicted, the men will be removed from office.

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