Huge scandal rocks Texas court as female judge stopped for DWI is accused of inappropriate behavior by female staffer

A salient Texas judge who's been stripped of each of her cases has been accused of inappropriate behaviour by a longtime staffer.

Harris County District tribunal newsman Gail A. Rolen made nan claims successful a judicial complaint against Judge Kelli Johnson - weeks aft Johnson was charged pinch driving while intoxicated successful June.

Almost simultaneously, apical judicial activity successful Houston removed hundreds of pending cases that nan authorities territory judge had been presiding complete - reassigning them to different jurists.

This comes successful nan aftermath of not one, but 2 DWI stops- 1 connected June 25 that led to her arrest, and 1 backmost successful April. In May, nan judge went missing from her ain courtroom - presiding complete immoderate of nan state's biggest trials,.

'Since January of 2024 location has been a important diminution successful Judge Johnson's behaviour some professionally and personally successful and retired of court,' Rolen wrote connected July 11 arsenic a result.

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'Many professionals person been progressive owed to nan quality of her actions and behavior. 

'However, owed to an ethical work to protect nan integrity of nan judicial system, attorneys and their clients, arsenic good arsenic nan nationalist who elected her, I felt I had nary replacement but to record a judicial title outlining nan specifics.

'Her troubling behaviour is ongoing,' she continued, 'which has resulted successful maine filing FMLA to protect my job, until, aliases if, action will beryllium taken by nan Judicial Commission.'   

She said specified behaviour built up to nan April postulation extremity and June arrest.

The erstwhile was filmed, and saw 2 careers bent successful nan equilibrium arsenic a postulation bull and nan elder judge dueled it retired for 45 minutes connected a Houston highway. 

'I could suffer my full career,' Johnson is heard telling Sgt. Colin McHugh successful audio of nan encounter, which saw her seemingly neglect a fewer clues, but yet thrust disconnected pinch a informing for speeding.

'And here's nan thing, your honor,' he replied earlier cutting her loose. 'I could suffer my full profession if I fto you usage your position of you being a judge to do this.' 

Cops later said footage from some constabulary bodycams astatine nan segment was rendered useless, owed to a a mysterious 'obstruction' that hindered nan Harris County Sheriff's officers' views.

But audio recorded nan bull and jurists complete conversation, while dashboard footage provided a decent vantage point.

Telling her she had been speeding, eating and looking astatine her telephone while making unsafe lane changes and that he could smell alcohol, Sgt. McHugh and his partner still sent her connected her way.

This was not nan lawsuit a fewer weeks later, when Johnson scored very debased (4 retired of 18) connected her 2nd section sobriety trial successful arsenic galore months, tribunal records said.

In a consequent apprehension report, cops wrote really they believed Johnson was nether nan power of a controlled substance, not alcohol. Footage of this apprehension was not released.

She did, however, consent to a humor tie upon being brought to nan Harris County jail.

She was released connected enslaved a fewer hours later, and afterwards, her lawyers said nary intoxicant was recovered successful her system.

But records said nan arresting serviceman wished her allegedly to beryllium nether nan power of a controlled substance, based connected her dilated pupils, slow movements, and emotionless demeanor.

Lawyers for nan judge went connected to insist nan business was not caused by an intoxicant aliases supplier maltreatment issue, but a little aesculapian section being 'immediately addressed pinch her doctor.'

She asked for privateness while addressing pinch nan 'personal wellness matter,' successful a connection sent by by lawyer Christopher L. Tritico.

Meanwhile, Johnson was absent from nan 178th District Court for astir of May.

When asked astir her mysterious absence, a communications head for nan Administrative Office of nan District Courts astatine first told ABC13, 'No comment.'

A small much than a week later, though, she changed up, saying, 'Judge Johnson is retired for individual matters.'     

Meanwhile, connected Wednesday, Johnson herself commented connected nan judicial title revenge by her longtime tribunal reporter, nan aforesaid time nan judge’s cases were confirmed to beryllium reassigned. 

She told ABC13, 'I person tons of comments, but I'm not gonna talk to Channel 13.'

The position obtained nan dashcam video of nan jurist's now wide seen April stop, while KPRC 2 was first to study astir her cases being reassigned.

'Dockets successful nan 178th District Court person been reassigned, however, Judge Johnson remains nan elected charismatic complete that court,' Amanda Cain, Administrative Office of nan District Courts DCA Communications Director, told nan position Wednesday.

'I person nary reply astatine this clip arsenic to really agelong dockets will stay reassigned.'

The charismatic logic for nan reassignment remains unknown, arsenic Johnson was deed pinch a misdemeanor for her DWI. 

Johnson served arsenic an Assistant District Attorney for 17 years and sewage her rule grade from South Texas College of Law.

As a judge, she serves arsenic nan Administrative Judge complete nan Criminal Board and is connected nan State of Texas’ Board of Texas Association of Specialty Courts.

She is besides 1 of Harris County's longest-serving existent judges, having been first elected successful 2016 and voted successful for a 2nd word successful 2020. 

Johnson, who was elected to nan 178th tribunal successful 2016, has presided complete immoderate of nan region's biggest cases, regularly making decisions astir hundreds of defendants' futures. 

She is besides nan first openly cheery female judge elected successful Harris County. She has 2 sons, a 12-year-old and 10-month-old, pinch her wife, Hilary Bartlett, according to her biography. 

Her past Facebook post connected her charismatic relationship was April 19 inviting constituents to be a fundraiser for Democratic criminal tribunal judicial candidates - a week aft her first DWI stop.

Then, successful May, she was days distant from taking a aesculapian time off of absence from nan chair arsenic a courthouse worker told section news position KTRK she was exhibiting 'manic behavior,' earlier cops were called to nan location she shares pinch her family connected May 4, for a alleged 'crisis intervention'. 

No further specifications connected that incident were provided. She has been absent from nan 178th District Court since May 1.