Texas Judge Hilary Unger is facing significant backlash from law enforcement and the community after her decision to grant bond to Ronnie Palmer, one of the two individuals charged with capital murder in connection with the death of Harris County Deputy Fernando Esqueda. Judge Unger, who presides over Harris County’s 248th District Criminal Court, established a $3 million bond for Palmer, allowing the previously bondless suspect the potential to be released.

Palmer, held since July on charges of capital murder and two separate charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, now carries set bonds of $50,000 per assault charge, in addition to the $3 million capital murder bond. The decision drew the ire of law enforcement organizations, notably the Houston Police Officers' Union and the Harris County Deputies' Organization, with both groups condemning what they described as Unger's leniency toward violent offenders.

This controversy intensified following the recent release of Palmer's co-defendant, Dremone Francis, who was granted a $1 million bond set in November and was able to secure his release. Local law enforcement organizations initially criticized Unger, alleging she was responsible for setting Francis's bail. However, defense attorney Cheryl Irvin clarified that Unger was not involved in Francis’s bail decision, noting that the bond had been established previously without opposition from the district attorney's office. Further complicating matters, procedural delays reportedly played a role in Francis’s eligibility for bond.

Irvin emphasized the defendants' constitutional right to reasonable bail under the Eighth Amendment. She stated that the conditions imposed, including house arrest, were considered appropriate measures for Francis, who successfully posted the bail.

Despite these explanations, Judge Unger remains the subject of heavy condemnation from police advocacy groups who accuse her of prioritizing suspects' rights and rehabilitation efforts over public safety. Organizations argue this is part of a broader trend in Unger’s judicial history, citing her campaign promises to pursue alternatives to incarceration that focus on rehabilitation and reducing repeat offenses.

With Judge Unger running for re-election in 2026, this case and associated criticism put her judicial philosophy directly under public scrutiny, prompting renewed debate over criminal justice reforms versus traditional approaches to public safety. Harris County and local judicial authorities have yet to provide further official commentary on this ongoing controversy.