Ethics
Fees dropped in opposition to Texas handcuffing decide after she agrees to resign and by no means run once more
Choose Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez of Bexar County, Texas, resigned from the Bexar County district courtroom in April. (Photograph from the Bexar County, Texas, County Court docket 13 web site)
Felony prices have been dropped in opposition to a Texas decide who handcuffed a protection lawyer in her courtroom, was suspended without pay after which lost her March primary election.
A particular prosecutor filed a movement to dismiss felony illegal restraint and misdemeanor official oppression prices in opposition to Choose Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez of Bexar County, Texas, the identical day that she resigned from the bench, KSAT studies.
In accordance with the April 20 agreement launched by the Texas State Fee on Judicial Conduct, Speedlin Gonzalez resigned voluntarily. Moreover, in line with the doc, she is “ceaselessly disqualified” from serving as a decide, operating for decide or performing marriage ceremony ceremonies as a decide.
Speedlin Gonzalez misplaced a Democratic main race to Alicia “Ali” Perez in March. Perez is operating unopposed within the November basic election, in line with Ballotpedia.
The handcuffing incident occurred in December 2024 and concerned protection lawyer Elizabeth Russell. Her shopper was on probation for home violence, and the federal government claimed that he didn’t report back to his probation officer or carry out neighborhood service.
At his listening to, Speedlin Gonzalez requested him whether or not the allegation was true; he stated sure, and Russell requested a second together with her shopper, which the decide agreed to, in line with the transcript. Russell then requested the courtroom to retract his plea. Speedlin Gonzalez accused her of teaching the witness, and he or she objected.
The alternate grew heated and private, and Russell requested to be recused from the case, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
In accordance with the transcript, Speedlin Gonzalez stated she will get “to lift my voice on this courtroom,” not Russell, who continued to ask for a recusal. The decide directed her bailiff to place Russell within the jury field, and he or she was handcuffed, in line with the transcript.
The alternate continued, and Speedlin Gonzalez ultimately directed her bailiff to take away {the handcuffs} from Russell, who continued to ask for a recusal.
Apart from Speedlin Gonzalez’s indictment, the Texas judicial conduct fee settlement listed a number of complaints filed in opposition to Speedlin Gonzalez.
One, from October 2025, accused her of displaying an unprofessional demeanor towards a felony defendant and failing to well timed proceed on a movement to change bond situations, in addition to two habeas petitions. The others alleged that she issued no-contact orders prohibiting employees at a Bexar County specialty courtroom generally known as the “Reflejo Court docket,” the place she presided, from speaking with former courtroom staff. The Reflejo Court docket hears misdemeanor home violence issues and operates like drug courts, in line with the courtroom’s FAQ page.
No findings of reality have been entered for the complaints, in line with the settlement.
Chad Baruch, Speedlin Gonzalez’s protection lawyer, didn’t instantly reply to an ABA Journal interview request.
In a marketing campaign speech shared on Facebook, Speedlin Gonzalez stated she was going via a troublesome time.
“I’m gonna let you know this—after they come for me, they arrive for each lady within the room,” Speedlin Gonzalez stated within the video.
She made related statements about being a baby of first-generation immigrants, being from South Texas and being homosexual.
“I’m harmless of all prices. I can’t discuss concerning the particulars within the case, however I’ll say that, and I imagine within the justice system,” she stated within the video.
Speedlin Gonzalez had additionally confronted earlier complaints, which have been finally dismissed, in line with a 2023 opinion.
Additionally, in 2022, Speedlin Gonzalez admitted to having a loaded gun in her carry-on baggage on the San Antonio Worldwide Airport. She stated the incident was “oversight on my half,” KSAT reported.
In accordance with KSAT, Speedlin Gonzalez paid the Transportation Safety Administration a $2,475 civil penalty.
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