A Texas judge has permanently resigned from her position and agreed to never serve in a judicial capacity again following allegations that she ordered a defense attorney to be handcuffed during a courtroom dispute in December 2024.
Rosie Speedlin-Gonzalez, 61, who served as a judge in Bexar County Court 13, reached a voluntary agreement with the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct to resign in lieu of disciplinary action. The agreement effectively bars her from any future judicial service in Texas.
The incident that precipitated her downfall occurred during a probation revocation hearing when defense attorney Elizabeth Russell attempted to confer with her client. According to courtroom transcripts, the situation escalated after Russell’s client responded to an allegation by pleading “true,” prompting the attorney to request a moment to speak with her client.
Speedlin-Gonzalez denied the request, stating that attorneys are not permitted to coach their clients. When Russell objected as the court proceeded with the plea, the judge responded forcefully.
“Stop. It’s on the record. Your argumentative ways are not going to work today. Stop. Stop, or I’ll hold you in contempt, Ms. Russell. I will hold you in contempt,” the judge stated according to the transcript.
The confrontation quickly escalated when Speedlin-Gonzalez directed a bailiff to “Take her into custody and put her in the box,” effectively ordering Russell to be handcuffed and placed in the jury box area.
During the incident, the judge lectured Russell about her conduct, stating: “You will not run around these courtrooms, especially court number 13, and think that you can just conduct yourself in the way you’ve been conducting yourself for at least the last six years.”
Russell, who noted she had only been practicing law for five years, filed a criminal complaint following her release.
In January, Speedlin-Gonzalez was indicted on charges of unlawful restraint by a judicial officer and misdemeanor official oppression. The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct subsequently suspended her without pay in February.
The resignation agreement addresses five separate complaints filed against Speedlin-Gonzalez. Beyond the handcuffing incident, additional complaints alleged she exhibited unprofessional demeanor toward a criminal defendant, failed to timely proceed on bond modification motions and habeas corpus writs, and abused her judicial authority by ordering court employees to have no contact with former employees.
Under the terms of the agreement, Speedlin-Gonzalez is permanently prohibited from sitting or serving as a judge, standing for election or appointment to judicial office, and performing any judicial duties or functions, including conducting wedding ceremonies in a judicial capacity. She may still perform wedding ceremonies under Texas Family Code provisions, but cannot wear judicial robes or reference any judicial function or authority.
The agreement notes that “the allegations of judicial misconduct, if found to be true, could result in further disciplinary action” beyond the suspension she had already received.
Speedlin-Gonzalez had already lost her reelection bid in the Democratic primary last month, ensuring her departure from the bench regardless of the disciplinary proceedings. However, the resignation agreement ensures she cannot return to judicial service anywhere in Texas.
The criminal case against Speedlin-Gonzalez remains active. Her attorney filed a motion to dismiss the indictment on Monday, and she is scheduled to appear in court on June 5.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about judicial conduct and the proper treatment of attorneys in courtroom proceedings, as well as the mechanisms in place to address allegations of judicial misconduct.
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