Traci Soderstrom.Photo:The Oklahoman/Youtube
The Oklahoman/Youtube
AnOklahoma judgewho was caught on camera texting and scrolling through Facebook repeatedly during a murder trial has agreed to resign.
In July,The Oklahomanpublished a video of Judge Traci Soderstrom appearing to use her phone for minutes at a time during jury selection, opening statements and key testimony during the trial of a man who was accused of — and eventually convicted of manslaughter — for beating a 2-year-old child to death.
TheAssociated Press,KFORandABC Newsreported that Soderstrom has now announced her resignation.
“There were some things that I did inappropriately,” Soderstrom said Friday, ABC reported. “I texted during a trial. It doesn’t matter whether it was a traffic case or whether it was a divorce case or whether it was a first-degree murder case. I texted during the trial and that was inappropriate.”
Traci Soderstrom.The Oklahoma State Courts Network
The Oklahoma State Courts Network
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The Oklahoman
The petition also alleged that the bailiff made a “crass” remark about the prosecutor’s genitalia, to which Soderstrom reportedly responded with a laughing emoji.
“The pattern of conduct demonstrates Respondent’s (Soderstrom’s) gross neglect of duty, gross partiality and oppression,” Kane wrote. “The conduct further demonstrates Respondent’s (Soderstrom’s) lack of temperament to serve as a judge.”
source: people.com
