A judge in Oklahoma has resigned after she was caught sending texts during a murder trial regarding a toddler.
The judge has stepped down after she was caught sending hundreds of text messages while presiding over a trial concerning the death of a two-year-old boy. Lincoln Country District Judge Traci Soderstrom exchanged ‘more than 500 texts’ with a bailiff.
The boyfriend of the child’s mother, Khristian Martzall, was on trial and later convicted of second-degree manslaughter.
The chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Justice John Kane IV, recommended Soderstrom be removed from the bench in October over allegations of gross neglect of duty and other grounds.
It comes after the Oklahoman published 50 minutes of security footage which appeared to show Soderstrom sending messages while in the courtroom.
In Kane’s petition, an investigation into her messages revealed she described the defense attorney as “awesome”, but she mocked a prosecutor for “sweating through his coat”. Soderstrom also made fun of jurors’ hair and teeth at the trial.
The judge also texted a laughing emoji icon to the bailiff, who made a “crass and demeaning” reference to the prosecutor’s genitals.
When the child’s mother took the stand, she sent a text writing: “Can I please scream ‘liar, liar?'”
The judge, who took office last year, sent other messages, including expressing her opinion the defendant was innocent. She decided to step down before a trial in a special court was scheduled for Monday.
Soderstrom said she decided to step down rather than see out the trial because she didn’t believe it’d be fair.
While resigning, she spoke about her “core beliefs” and “honesty” and “principles”.
She said: “My core beliefs and the variables that served me well as an attorney—honesty, preparation, principles and passion, are better utilized as an advocate and not an arbiter.”
She also said: “The actions necessary to disseminate the information and required to hold each person and elected official accountable for their actions require more than a trial before the Judiciary. For these reasons, I have decided to resign from my position as District Judge for Judicial District 23.”
