Months after a sudden leave of absence due to personal health concerns and an investigation following her arrest, Judge Kelli Johnson has made her return to the bench. As per her attorney's confirmation, Johnson, who presides over the 178th District Court in Harris County, is back to fully execute her judicial duties. Notably, her hiatus was predicated on a need to recover from a head injury that was sustained from a motor scooter fall in Feb. 2024, according to information obtained by Click2Houston.
Judge Johnson was dealt another challenge when she was pulled over in Cypress last year for multiple traffic violations. Although the officer remarked on an aroma of alcohol, she was only given a warning. A separate incident in Spring Branch led to an arrest for Driving While Intoxicated. However, the Driving While Intoxicated charge was later dismissed when a toxicology report returned clear of drugs and alcohol. As reported by CW39, it was disclosed by her attorney that her behavior might have been influenced by her previous head injury.
Following an exhaustive recovery process, Johnson expressed her gratitude. "This has been the most difficult period of my life. I’m incredibly grateful to my family, friends, and supporters who stood by me throughout my recovery. Your encouragement gave me the strength to focus on healing and return to the work I love," she told Click2Houston. Her work as a judge includes presiding over several high-profile cases, enhancing her visibility within the judicial landscape since her election in 2016.
