Texas Judge Faces Criminal Charges After Handcuffing Attorney in Courtroom

Unprecedented Criminal Case Against Sitting Judge

Bexar County Court at Law Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez has been arrested and booked on charges of official oppression and unlawful restraint stemming from an incident in her courtroom. Bexar County Court at Law Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez was indicted on charges of unlawful restraint and official oppression in a rare case involving a sitting judge. The 60-year-old judge turned herself in Thursday and was booked into the Bexar County Jail before being released on a personal recognizance bond.

The indictment stems from a December 2024 hearing in which prosecutors say Speedlin Gonzalez ordered defense attorney Elizabeth Russell to be handcuffed and seated in the jury box during a dispute over courtroom procedure. Unlawful restraint by a judicial officer is a second-degree felony, which can carry prison time and a fine. Criminal charges against sitting judges are extraordinarily rare in the American legal system.

Courtroom Confrontation Escalates

Speedlin-Gonzalez then requested for Russell to be taken into custody. "Put her in the box," she said. "We are not having this hearing this way." At 2:18 p.m., just eight minutes into the hearing, court records state, the defense attorney is placed in handcuffs as she says, "You need to contact him now," referring to Judge Sid Harle, who oversees the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region.

The confrontation began during a probation revocation hearing when Speedlin-Gonzalez responded saying that "attorneys are not allowed to coach answers to their clients." At that point, things escalate when court transcripts state Russell objected to the judge's categorization of the events. Court transcripts reveal a heated exchange where the back-and-forth continues between the two, with Speedlin-Gonzalez asserting, "I get to raise my voice in this court, not you."

Asked again about if she'll "conduct yourself professionally," Russell says "I will" and then has her handcuffs removed, according to the court transcript. The incident highlights the extraordinary power judges wield in their courtrooms and the potential for abuse when that authority goes unchecked.

Pattern of Controversial Behavior

Speedlin Gonzalez has served on the bench since 2019, when she became the first openly LGBTQ judge elected in Bexar County. She oversees the county's Reflejo Court for first-time domestic violence offenders. However, concerns about judicial conduct in Bexar County have been quietly circulating for months, and the arrest of Judge Rosie Speedlin-Gonzalez has intensified those conversations. Multiple sources familiar with courthouse operations say her case is not an isolated incident, but part of broader frustration over how some judges are running their courtrooms, citing repeated complaints about treatment of litigants, courtroom management, and unchecked authority.

In 2022, the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a public admonition after a handgun was discovered in her luggage during airport screening at San Antonio International Airport. No criminal charges were filed, and the matter was resolved through the commission's disciplinary process, including a fine. The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct has also previously reprimanded Speedlin Gonzalez for using Facebook to congratulate attorneys, saying the conduct could create an appearance of bias. She was ordered to undergo additional judicial training.

Legal and Political Implications

The Bexar County District Attorney's Office filed a motion for recusal regarding the case, which was granted by the court. Brian Cromeens, district attorney for the 24th Judicial District, which includes DeWitt and Goliad counties, was assigned as special prosecutor on Oct. 1, 2025. Officials with the county say Speedlin-Gonzalez is currently being paid, but her caseload is being distributed to other judges.

Speedlin Gonzalez is seeking reelection in the March Democratic primary against challenger Alicia Perez. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which has recently suspended other judges facing criminal charges, had not taken action against Speedlin Gonzalez as of Thursday evening. This case will likely set precedent for how the justice system handles allegations of judicial misconduct, particularly when judges cross the line from courtroom authority to criminal behavior. The outcome could reshape accountability standards for judges nationwide and influence how legal professionals interact within the traditionally hierarchical courtroom environment.