A judge overseeing a specialist domestic violence court in Texas has been accused of bullying defendants and creating a toxic environment, with former staff members detailing a series of erratic and aggressive outbursts.
Allegations of Inappropriate Remarks and Aggressive Behaviour
Former workers for the Reflejo Court programme in Bexar County have come forward with serious allegations against its presiding judge, Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez. The trauma-informed treatment programme is designed to help first-time domestic violence offenders address root causes instead of facing jail time. However, sources claim Judge Gonzalez's conduct has severely undermined its purpose.
Therapist Cynthia Garcia, who provided services to court participants, told local outlet KSAT that the judge's behaviour shifted dramatically over the past year. One of the most shocking allegations involves Gonzalez allegedly telling a female defendant, who had experienced a pregnancy scare, to "invest in batteries" and buy a vibrator, stating it would cause her "less trouble".
In another incident, Garcia claims Gonzalez verbally attacked an 18-year-old homeless man after sexual content was found on his phone, calling him a "f****** poser" in open court, which left the teenager visibly shaking.
Retaliation Against Staff and a Culture of Fear
The concerns reportedly extended to court staff who questioned the judge's methods. In July last year, Garcia emailed her worries about a defendant, prompting an abrasive response from Gonzalez telling staff to "stay in our respective lanes" and suggesting they seek therapy if they felt targeted. The very next day, Garcia was removed from the Reflejo Court programme by her manager.
Garcia, who was employed by the nonprofit American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions, saw her hours slashed and subsequently resigned. "It was hurtful because I put my heart into my work," she told KSAT, describing the move as a betrayal.
She was not alone. Complex care manager Crystal Ochoa also reported being appalled by the judge's changing demeanour, describing it as unnecessarily aggressive. "It became very like 'No, this is what I’m saying. I’m the judge. I’m going to do this, whether you all like it or not'," Ochoa stated. She too was removed from the court, with her employer, the Center for Health Care Services, allegedly terminating her position under pressure from Gonzalez.
Ochoa believes her supervisors feared the judge, recalling one saying, "I don’t want to get into another phone call with this judge and it being like her yelling at me." In September, Gonzalez issued a no-contact order preventing remaining staff from speaking with Garcia, Ochoa, and two others, warning that a breach would be grounds for removal from the team.
Confrontation with an Attorney and a Controversial Past
The alleged misconduct also involved legal professionals. In 2024, defence attorney Elizabeth Russell was reportedly ordered to be handcuffed and placed in the jury box by Judge Gonzalez during a dispute over a probation hearing. Russell later filed a criminal complaint accusing the judge of oppression and unlawful restraint.
Judge Gonzalez, a member of the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame, has previously been in the headlines. In 2022, she was fined $2,400 after carrying a loaded, rainbow-painted pistol through security at San Antonio International Airport, which she claimed was an honest mistake. That same year, she was ordered to take down a Pride flag from her courtroom, though she successfully appealed the decision the following year.
When approached for comment on the specific bullying allegations, Gonzalez declined to disclose information about individuals or vendors, stating she respected "process, privacy, and the integrity of our partnerships." The accusations paint a troubling picture of a judicial figure allegedly allowing her ego to override the rehabilitative mission of the court she oversees.
