A Texas judge who disappeared from the courtroom after presiding over some of the state’s biggest trials has been placed on medical leave, according to her family.
Local rumors began circulating about Harris County Judge Kelli Johnson after it was noted that she has been absent from the 178th District Court since May 1.
His absence raised speculation about his mental health, a court employee told a local news station. KTRK she exhibited “manic behavior.”
Despite the rumors, his brother Clay Johnson said The daily beast that his sister was “fine” and that his family and wife were in “daily contact with her.”
He told the outlet: ‘She’s not missing, she’s on medical leave. She’s in touch with the family and everything is fine, and that’s all I can say.
Local rumors began circulating about Harris County Judge Kelli Johnson after it was noted that she has been absent from the 178th District Court since May 1.
She is the first openly gay judge elected in Harris County and has two children, one 12 years old and one 10 months old, with her wife Hilary Bartlett, all seen here.
As a judge, he serves as an administrative judge for the Criminal Board and serves on the Texas Special Courts Association Board for the state of Texas.
A Houston police report obtained by KTRK revealed that Johnson was involved in an incident near her home on May 4.
One officer cited in the report a “disturbance/CIT,” which is a police acronym for crisis intervention.
Visiting judges have been covering Johnson’s court record, including retired Judge Jim Wallace presiding over a trial in his place.
Johnson oversaw several of the state’s largest trials and convicted a man of capital murder in the 2020 beating death of an eight-year-old boy in April.
Johnson is one of the longest-serving current judges in Harris County; She was first elected in 2016 and voted for a second term in 2020.
She is the first openly gay judge elected in Harris County and has two children, one 12 years old and the other 10 months old, with her wife Hilary Bartlett, according to her biography.
Johnson previously worked as an assistant district attorney for 17 years and earned her law degree from South Texas College of Law.
As a judge, he serves as an administrative judge for the Criminal Board and is on the Texas Special Courts Association Board of the State of Texas.
His last Facebook post on his official account was on April 19 inviting voters to attend a fundraiser for Democratic criminal court judicial candidates.
Visiting judges have been covering Johnson’s court record, including retired judge Jim Wallace (pictured) presiding over a trial in his place.
Johnson (center left) is one of the longest-serving current judges in Harris County; She was first elected in 2016 and voted for a second term in 2020.
In April, after 20 minutes of jury deliberation, Brian Coulter, 34, was found guilty of capital murder for beating to death his girlfriend’s eight-year-old son, Kendrick Lee, in 2020, leading to Johnson to sentence him to life in prison. prison.
“This is probably one of the most horrific events I have ever had to witness, hear and imagine,” Johnson said during his sentencing.
‘Sir, those kids chased me last week. I hope, sir, that when I am in prison, those same boys who have tormented my mind will torment yours.
Coulter will serve life in prison for beating the child to death inside the couple’s apartment at the CityParc II complex in Houston on November 20, 2020.
Prosecutors said that after beating the boy to death, Coulter and his girlfriend, Gloria Williams, moved out of the apartment and left their three other children to live alone with Lee’s remains.
Coulter (pictured) will serve life in prison for beating the child to death inside the couple’s apartment at the CityParc II complex in Houston on November 20, 2020.
Johnson presided over all three trials of the son of a former NFL player, AJ Armstrong (pictured), who was convicted of killing his parents when he was 16 in 2016.
Johnson presided over all three trials of the son of a former NFL player who was convicted of killing his parents when he was 16 in 2016.
After two mistrials, Antonio Armstrong Jr. (AJ) was found guilty of murdering his parents, Dawn and Antonio Sr., in August.
Antonio Sr. was a linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.
In 2016, Dawn and Antonio Sr. were shot in the head and had pillows placed over their faces while they slept in their Texas home.