Bexar County Court at Law Judge Rosie Speedlin-Gonzalez has agreed to resign from office following criminal charges tied to allegations of unlawful restraint and official oppression stemming from a December 2024 courtroom incident. The case has drawn attention across the local legal community due to concerns about judicial conduct and courtroom authority.
The allegations center on a contentious hearing involving attorney Elizabeth Russell and her client, Brian Keith Collins Jr., who was serving probation for domestic violence-related offenses. Court records indicate that tensions escalated after the judge questioned whether Collins had complied with the conditions of his release. During that exchange, Collins initially affirmed compliance, but after consulting with his attorney, later changed his response. The shift prompted the judge to accuse Russell of improper influence over her client’s testimony.
The interaction intensified, with the judge ultimately ordering Russell taken into custody and placed in the jury box by a bailiff. The episode was later described in filings as involving an unprofessional courtroom demeanor and excessive use of judicial authority. The criminal complaint related to the incident was not formally filed until mid-2025, several months after the courtroom confrontation.
Following the indictment, Speedlin-Gonzalez was briefly booked into the Bexar County Jail in January 2026 before being released on a personal recognizance bond after approximately 25 minutes. Additional complaints were later submitted to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, expanding scrutiny to include broader administrative practices during her tenure.
Among those concerns were allegations that she issued a restrictive communication order via email affecting personnel connected to Bexar County’s Reflejo Court and related specialty court programs. Critics argued the directive limited coordination between current and former staff involved in domestic violence intervention efforts.
Speedlin-Gonzalez’s resignation agreement includes permanent disqualification from holding or seeking future judicial office, as well as restrictions on performing weddings in a judicial capacity or referencing any official authority during ceremonies.
She also played a central role in establishing the Reflejo Court, a specialty program designed to reduce recidivism among domestic violence offenders through structured supervision and a multidisciplinary approach. However, a recent evaluation indicated the program has not met participation targets, serving fewer individuals than originally projected since its launch in 2020.
Despite leadership changes, the Reflejo Court continues to operate, with county commissioners recently approving renewed funding for future fiscal support. Officials have not indicated any immediate changes to its structure following the judge’s departure.
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