In Bexar County, Texas, Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez was arrested on charges of unlawful restraint and official oppression stemming from a December 2024 incident in her courtroom. Authorities confirmed the judge’s arrest took place on Thursday, with Gonzalez turning herself in at the Bexar County Jail. She was released the same day after posting a $40,000 bond.
The charges arise from a contentious courtroom exchange, where defense attorney Elizabeth Russell, representing a client on a motion to revoke probation, was purportedly handcuffed by the judge's order after a request for client consultation was denied. This act, classified as unlawful restraint—a second-degree felony—and official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor, brought the judge under official scrutiny.
Judge Gonzalez, who presides over the Reflejo Court, a program for first-time domestic violence offenders, has a history of public attention. She is noted for being the county’s first openly LGBT-elected judge and has previously faced criticism for displaying a Pride flag in her courtroom. Moreover, in 2022, she encountered legal issues when a handgun was discovered in her luggage, resulting in a civil penalty.
The incident has led to a redistribution of Speedlin Gonzalez’s caseload and raises questions about the limits of judicial authority. With the case assigned to 379th District Court Judge Ron Rangel and Special Prosecutor Brian Cromeens overseeing, the legal community anticipates a broader dialogue on judicial discretion and attorney rights.
