Bexar County Court-at-Law Judge Rosie Speedlin-Gonzalez booked after grand jury indictment over courtroom handcuffing incident

Indictment follows a Dec. 17, 2024 incident involving a San Antonio defense attorney

A Bexar County judge was booked into the county jail Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, after a grand jury indictment accused her of unlawful restraint and official oppression tied to a dispute in her courtroom more than a year earlier.

Rosie Speedlin-Gonzalez, the presiding judge of Bexar County Court-at-Law No. 13, was indicted on allegations that she intentionally or knowingly restrained San Antonio defense attorney Elizabeth Russell by restricting her movements without consent, substantially interfering with Russell’s liberty. The indictment also alleges that Speedlin-Gonzalez subjected Russell to arrest and/or detention that the judge knew was unlawful while acting under color of her office.

Charges and potential penalties under Texas law

The case includes two counts that carry different potential consequences under Texas law:

• Unlawful restraint, which Texas law generally defines as intentionally or knowingly restraining another person. The Penal Code definition of “restrain” centers on restricting a person’s movements without consent in a way that substantially interferes with liberty, including by confinement or moving the person from one place to another.

• Official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor when alleged against a public servant who, acting under color of office, intentionally subjects another person to mistreatment or to an arrest or detention the public servant knows is unlawful, among other prohibited conduct.

Court paperwork associated with the indictment states Speedlin-Gonzalez was booked at the Bexar County jail shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday and later released after posting a $40,000 bond.

Case assignment, recusals, and special prosecution

The prosecution is being handled outside the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, which has recused itself from the matter due to a conflict of interest. A special prosecutor from outside the county has been appointed to handle the case.

The case has been assigned to the 379th District Court. The presiding judge of that court has indicated plans to recuse as well, setting the stage for reassignment to another jurist for further proceedings.

Response from the judge and background

Speedlin-Gonzalez has denied criminal wrongdoing through her attorney and has said she intends to contest the allegations through the court process.

Speedlin-Gonzalez has served as the elected judge of County Court-at-Law No. 13 and also presides over Reflejo Court, a specialty docket. The criminal case arrives as the county’s judicial election cycle is underway in 2026, placing additional public attention on the timeline for court hearings, recusals, and any potential trial settings.

No trial date has been publicly set in the information reviewed as of Thursday evening.