Special prosecutor to be appointed in Judge Kelli Johnson's DWI case, judge says

Judge Kelli Johnson is a longtime criminal court judge who’s presided over several high-profile trials.

HOUSTON — Harris County criminal court Judge Kelli Johnson made her second court appearance Tuesday morning in downtown Houston after being arrested and charged with DWI last month.

Johnson was in court to sign off on bond conditions. Part of those bond conditions include no drugs or alcohol use.

Her defense attorney, Chris Tritico, argued that Johnson was not intoxicated behind the wheel and voluntarily submitted to a breath test which came back 0.0.

Tritico said Johnson was experiencing a medical episode which is being addressed by her doctor.

“Judge Johnson is now, does now, and always has been a big believer in the judicial process and she’s going to let that play itself out,” Tritico said.

Prosecutors from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office have recused themselves from this case, and the judge hearing the case has called upon a special prosecutor.

Johnson is a longtime criminal court judge who’s presided over several high-profile trials including A.J. Armstrong's murder trial in the 2016 shooting deaths of his parents.

Johnson is due back in court on Aug. 6.

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