Judge Kelli Johnson’s DWI Charge Dismissed

Judge Kelli Johnson, a longstanding figure in the Harris County Criminal Court system, recently had a DWI charge against her dismissed. The 52-year-old judge was pulled over by Houston police on June 25 and arrested on a misdemeanor DWI charge.

Following her arrest, Johnson voluntarily took a breath test, which showed no presence of alcohol or drugs in her system. Her defense attorney, Chris Tritico, attributed the incident to a medical issue. Special prosecutors were later assigned to the case after the Harris County DA’s office recused themselves, and ultimately dismissed the charge this week.

Tritico released a statement saying, “This was a case that should never have been filed. Judge Johnson had no alcohol on her breath or drugs in her system. There was, quite frankly, no probable cause to arrest her. We are relieved that the truth has come to light and look forward to Judge Johnson returning to her duties after recovering from a brain injury.”

While details about Johnson’s medical leave for a brain injury were not disclosed, Tritico emphasized her decades of service to Harris County as a former Assistant District Attorney and judge. He expressed Johnson’s eagerness to return to the bench and continue providing respect, fairness, and justice to all who appear before her.

Johnson has presided over several high-profile trials, including those of A.J. Armstrong, David Temple, and Brian Coulter. Her recent sentencing of Coulter to life in prison without parole for the murder of his 8-year-old stepson, Kendrick Lee, showcased her commitment to justice and protecting the community.

Reflecting on her experience, Johnson shared after the trial, “Those children have haunted me this last week. They have haunted my mind and they have interrupted my safe space when I leave this building.” Kendrick was tragically beaten to death by Coulter in November 2020, leaving a devastating impact on his siblings.