Now-former Judge Rosie Speedlin-Gonzalez has agreed to resign from the Bexar County Court 13 bench. She was suspended without pay in February by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, following her indictment for unlawfully restraining an attorney.
She was first elected to the court in 2018, when she became the first publicly homosexual judge elected in the county.
Background
As previously reported, Speedlin-Gonzalez’ legal troubles stem from a December 2024 incident in which she reportedly handcuffed San Antonio defense attorney Elizabeth Russell during a courtroom dispute.
On December 17, 2024, Russell was appearing before Speedlin-Gonzalez with her client during a hearing to revoke probation. When the client responded to one of the allegations by pleading “true,” Russell asked for a moment to confer with her client.
Speedlin-Gonzalez rejected this request, asserting that attorneys are not allowed to coach their clients. Russell then objected to proceeding with the hearing. Speedlin-Gonzalez threatened to hold Russell in contempt, saying that she is “not allowed to be argumentative and argue just for the sake of argument.”
The judge then directed a bailiff to take Russell into custody and “put her in the box,” where she proceeded to lecture the attorney.
“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, Ms. Russell,” said Speedlin-Gonzalez.
Following Russell’s release, she filed a criminal complaint against Speedlin-Gonzalez, alleging unlawful restraint. Speedlin-Gonzalez was indicted on January 29, 2026, by the grand jury of the 144th District Court.
According to the indictment, Speedlin-Gonzalez intentionally subjected Russell to “arrest and/or detention that the defendant knew was unlawful,” while she was acting under the color of her office as a public servant.
The judge turned herself in, was booked into the Bexar County Jail, and was released the same day on bond—which was reportedly set at $20,000.
Following her release, Speedlin-Gonzalez returned to presiding over cases up until her February 5 suspension by the SCJC.
Speedlin-Gonzalez has been at the center of numerous other controversies since her election.
Resignation
On Monday evening, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) released Speedlin-Gonzalez’ “Voluntary Agreement to Resign from Judicial Office in Lieu of Disciplinary Action.”
The agreement is signed by Speedlin-Gonzalez and SCJC Chair Gary Steel.
It states that “the parties agree that the allegations of judicial misconduct, if found to be true, could result in further disciplinary action against Judge Specdlin-Gonzalez” and that “the parties to this Agreement are desirous of resolving these matters without the time and expense of further disciplinary proceedings.”
Upon signing the agreement, Speedlin-Gonzalez resigned her duties. As a condition, the SCJC will not pursue further disciplinary proceedings.
Importantly, the agreement states that Speedlin-Gonzalez “shall be forever disqualified from judicial service in the State of Texas, including: (a) sitting or serving as a judge, (b) standing for election or appointment to a judicial office, and/or (c) performing or exercising any judicial duties or functions of a judicial officer, including the performance of wedding ceremonies.”
She may still perform wedding ceremonies, provided she does not wear a robe “or refer in any way to a judicial function or authority in the performance of a ceremony.”
What Happens Next
In the March 2026 Democrat primary, Speedlin-Gonzalez lost her race for another term to challenger Alicia “Ali” Perez, who took roughly two‑thirds of the vote. There is no Republican on the ballot for that seat.
Perez’ campaign seemed to take shots at Speedlin-Gonzalez’ conduct, highlighting that justice depends on “clear procedures, timely hearings, and consistent application of the law, all carried out in a calm and respectful courtroom.”
With Speedlin-Gonzalez resigning under a disciplinary agreement before her current term ends, her seat is treated as vacant. It is expected to be covered by visiting or interim judges until Perez is sworn in and formally takes over in January.
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