EL PASO, Texas -- Judge Sissy Hernandez has pleaded guilty to one count of nepotism and resigned from her post as Northeast El Paso Justice of the Peace.

She was ordered by the District Attorney's Office to be removed from office. She's not allowed to run for any judicial position in Texas.

Hernandez was indicted back in November on suspicion of hiring her granddaughter in her office.

The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct suspended Hernandez with pay after that indictment. Felix Saldivar temporarily replaced her.

On Tuesday morning, she released a statement to the media. Part of it read: "I am filled with a pride and a sense of accomplishment for a quarter century of giving my all to my community."

It goes on to say, "Northeast El Paso is in the midst of a run-off election. The community should not be split. It is best that I now resign to try to heal the wounds that may have been created."

Her lawyer, Jim Darnell spoke on her behalf on Tuesday.

"She decided, that rather than continue to fight, that it was easier to plead to the class C misdemeanor, but she resigned on her own before we went to court," said Darnell.

Hernandez was in a run-off with Brian Haggerty. The commissioners court will have to appoint someone to finish her term, which ends on Dec. 31.