Hidalgo set to return after mental health treatment
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is expected to return to work Monday after taking an extended leave of absence to receive mental health treatment.
Hidalgo went public with her health issues on Aug. 7 when she announced she had checked into an in-patient facility in late July to be treated for clinical depression. She had been experiencing symptoms “for some time,” but was not diagnosed until July, Hidalgo wrote in a letter. Hidalgo’s office declined to say which facility she went to but said it was out of state.
In the days before she went on leave, Hidalgo traveled to the White House with other Harris County officials to meet with the Biden administration about federal pandemic recovery funding and attended an unveiling ceremony for a mural in Midtown painted in her honor.
Hidalgo initially said she and her medical team hoped she would be back on the job by early September. However, on Sept. 14, she said she would be extending her leave of absence until Oct. 2.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis stepped in for Hidalgo by presiding over Harris County Commissioners Court meetings.
Another of Hidalgo’s responsibilities is leading emergency responses, but no major disasters struck the county during her roughly nine-week absence.
The most consequential vote she missed came on Sept. 19 when commissioners passed a $2.4 billion budget and a slightly decreased tax rate for the upcoming year. The meeting was notably amiable, with commissioners from both parties praising the collaborative budget process. Only a simple majority of the five-member court is legally required to approve the budget.
On Friday, five people filed a lawsuit with Harris County District Court to remove Hidalgo from office, claiming she is not able to do her work as Harris County judge because of health concerns.
Brandon Marshall, Harris County Judge’s Office spokesperson, called the lawsuit “meritless and an absolute joke.”
Hidalgo’s former Republican opponent, Alexandra del Moral Mealer, blasted her shortly before the vote in an op-ed in the Chronicle, arguing Hidalgo needed to be present to pass the budget and laying out two options for her: return or resign.
Hidalgo’s spokesperson Brandon Marshall shot back at Mealer: “Judge Hidalgo will continue
to rely on the advice of her medical team on when to return, not political opponents who voters rejected in last year’s election.”
A week later, Mealer dropped her lawsuit against Hidalgo challenging the results of the November election.
For free and confidential mental health help, call 988 to speak with a trained counselor at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. To reach the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free, confidential treatment referral and information service, call 800-662-4357. The Harris County Public Health department maintains an online list of mental health resources.