Busfield, widely known for his role in the television series The West Wing, had been indicted in February on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

The ruling, issued Friday by Judge Joseph Montano, follows a motion filed by Busfield’s defense attorneys in June challenging the conduct of the prosecutor who presented the case to the grand jury.

The defense argued that the prosecutor failed to uphold the legal obligation of neutrality and prevented grand jurors from hearing additional testimony they had specifically requested.

According to Busfield’s attorneys, the prosecutor misapplied New Mexico law and improperly restricted the grand jury’s ability to consider potentially relevant evidence before deciding whether to indict the actor.

In granting the motion to dismiss, Judge Montano concluded that the prosecutor’s conduct compromised the fairness of the proceedings.

The judge stated that the prosecution’s actions “had the practical effect of unilaterally withholding witnesses requested by the grand jurors.”

The decision invalidates the existing indictment against Busfield but does not prevent prosecutors from pursuing the case again.

Montano emphasized that the state “remains free to institute new criminal proceedings against the defendant.”

The ruling therefore does not constitute an acquittal or a determination of Busfield’s guilt or innocence. Instead, it addresses procedural concerns surrounding how the original indictment was obtained.

It remains unclear whether New Mexico prosecutors intend to seek a new indictment or pursue additional legal action.

For now, the dismissal represents a significant legal development for Busfield, whose case has attracted attention because of his longstanding career in television and film.