Texas Judge Indicted After Courtroom Incident
A Texas judge who gained national attention for displaying a pride flag in her courtroom now faces felony charges. Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez has been accused of unlawfully ordering a defense attorney to be handcuffed to the jury box.
On Thursday, Gonzalez surrendered herself on charges of unlawful restraint and oppression by a public servant, as reported by the New York Post. Since taking office in 2019, the 60-year-old has been recognized as Bexar County’s first openly LGBTQ judge.
In a quote, she expressed her identity: “I’m a proud public servant, I’m LGBTQ, I own a gun, I’m bilingual, I’m an American citizen, and I have every right to protect myself.”
The incident leading to the charges occurred during a December 2024 hearing, where tensions arose between Gonzalez and defense attorney Elizabeth Russell. Court records indicate that Russell requested to speak with her client after he confessed to a probation violation. However, Gonzalez denied this request, asserting that attorneys are not permitted to instruct their clients directly.
When Russell objected to the judge’s ruling, Gonzalez instructed bailiffs to detain her and place her in the jury box. According to the transcript, Russell was subsequently handcuffed and taken into custody.
A grand jury has since indicted Gonzalez on one felony charge of unlawful restraint by a judicial officer and a misdemeanor for official oppression, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News. The felony carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. A special prosecutor has been appointed since the local district attorney’s office has recused itself from the case.
This incident comes on the heels of a civil penalty Gonzalez paid in 2022 after a TSA agent discovered a loaded handgun in her carry-on luggage at the San Antonio airport. Additionally, she previously engaged in a four-year legal struggle over her right to display a rainbow flag in court, ultimately winning her appeal in 2023.
Gonzalez is currently running for re-election in the upcoming Democratic primary in March, as noted by Texas Public Radio.
As of Thursday, the state Judicial Conduct Commission had not taken any action against her. A trial date remains unestablished.
