Current:Home > InvestOklahoma judge sent over 500 texts during murder trial, including messages mocking prosecutor, calling witness liar-InfoLens
Oklahoma judge sent over 500 texts during murder trial, including messages mocking prosecutor, calling witness liar
View Date:2024-12-23 11:14:04
A new Oklahoma judge could lose her job for sending more than 500 texts to her bailiff during a murder trial, including messages mocking the prosecutor, praising the defense attorney and calling a key witness a liar.
The chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court recommended the removal of Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom in a court filing Tuesday following an investigation by the state's Council on Judicial Complaints.
Soderstrom has been under scrutiny since July after she was caught on camera scrolling through social media and texting during the trial of a man accused in the fatal beating of a 2-year-old.
Soderstrom, who was sworn in on Jan. 9 after being elected in November, was suspended with pay pending the outcome of a hearing by the Court on the Judiciary, which will determine whether to remove her from the bench.
"The pattern of conduct demonstrates Respondent's (Soderstrom's) gross neglect of duty, gross partiality and oppression," Chief Justice John Kane IV wrote. "The conduct further demonstrates Respondent's (Soderstrom's) lack of temperament to serve as a judge."
A phone call to a number listed for Soderstrom rang unanswered before disconnecting Wednesday.
Her attorney told The Oklahoman newspaper that the judge "takes these allegations very seriously" and is requesting "the entire record from the Council on Judicial Complaints so that she can respond appropriately."
Security video published by The Oklahoman showed Soderstrom texting or messaging for minutes at a time during jury selection, opening statements and testimony during the trial in Chandler, about 45 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
The judge's texts included saying the prosecutor was "sweating through his coat" during questioning of potential jurors and asking "why does he have baby hands?" according to Kane's petition. The texts described the defense attorney as "awesome" and asked "can I clap for her?" during the defense attorney's opening arguments.
Soderstrom also texted a laughing emoji icon to the bailiff, who had "made a crass and demeaning reference to the prosecuting attorneys' genitals," Kane wrote.
Khristian Tyler Martzall, the man who was on trial while the judge was on her phone, was eventually convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the 2018 death of Braxton Danker, the son of Martzall's girlfriend, and sentenced to time served.
Martzall's girlfriend and the mother of the child, Judith Danker, pleaded guilty to enabling child abuse. She was sentenced to 25 years and was a key prosecution witness who was called a liar by Soderstrom during testimony.
"State just couldn't accept that a mom could kill their kid so they went after the next person available," Soderstrom texted, according to the filing from Kane.
Soderstrom's texts also included comments questioning whether a juror was wearing a wig, if a witness has teeth and calling a police officer who testified, "pretty," adding, "I could look at him all day."
When questioned by the Council on Judicial Complaints, Soderstrom said her texting "probably could have waited" rather than realizing the comments should never have been made. She said she thought, "oh, that's funny. Move on."
Kane's petition also said Soderstrom had previously criticized other attorneys and prosecutors, and berated a member of the courthouse staff.
Soderstrom should be removed for reasons that include gross neglect of duty, gross partiality in office and oppression in office, Kane wrote.
The judge's four-year term ends in January 2027.
While campaigning to be a judge, her website stated: "Compassion is at the forefront of Traci's work with the clients of her legal practice because she understands it's sometimes what they need most."
- In:
- Oklahoma
veryGood! (7833)
Related
- Dramatic video shows Phoenix police rescue, pull man from car submerged in pool: Watch
- Man dies in landslide at Minnesota state park
- The 10 best quarterbacks in college football's transfer portal
- Florida Republican chairman won’t resign over rape allegation, saying he is innocent
- Will Aaron Rodgers retire? Jets QB tells reporters he plans to play in 2025
- Duke basketball’s Tyrese Proctor injured in Blue Devils’ loss to Georgia Tech
- The 10 best quarterbacks in college football's transfer portal
- How Prince William Is Putting His Own Royal Future Ahead of His Relationship With Prince Harry
- Whoopi Goldberg calling herself 'a working person' garners criticism from 'The View' fans
- 'Wait Wait' for December 2, 2023: With Not My Job guest Dakota Johnson
Ranking
- NBC's hospital sitcom 'St. Denis Medical' might heal you with laughter: Review
- Indigenous Leaders Urge COP28 Negotiators to Focus on Preventing Loss and Damage and Drastically Reducing Emissions
- Florida State grinds out ACC championship game win with third-string QB under center
- Italy reportedly refused Munich museum’s request to return ancient Roman statue bought by Hitler
- Tony Todd, star of 'Candyman,' 'Final Destination,' dies at 69
- Nightengale's Notebook: 10 questions heading into MLB's winter meetings
- College football winners and losers for Week 14: Alabama, Texas on verge of playoff
- The Excerpt podcast: The temporary truce between Israel and Hamas is over
Recommendation
-
Waymo’s robotaxis now open to anyone who wants a driverless ride in Los Angeles
-
Taylor Swift was Spotify's most-streamed artist in 2023. Here's how to see Spotify Wrapped
-
How S Club Is Honoring Late Member Paul Cattermole on Tour
-
Gun factory in upstate New York with roots in 19th century set to close
-
Kid Rock tells fellow Trump supporters 'most of our left-leaning friends are good people'
-
Big 12 committed to title game even with CFP expansion and changes in league, Yormark says
-
US Navy says it will cost $1.5M to salvage jet plane that crashed on Hawaii coral reef
-
Louisiana granted extra time to draw new congressional map that complies with Voting Rights Act