Oklahoma judge resigns following criticism for texting during 2-year-old's murder trial
Traci Soderstrom agreed to resign after sending over 500 texts to her bailiff during the OK trial
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- An Oklahoma judge, Traci Soderstrom, has agreed to resign after sending over 500 texts to her bailiff during a murder trial.
- Soderstrom's actions during the trial, including excessive texting, were captured on security video.
- Soderstrom has agreed to resign and refrain from seeking any judicial office in Oklahoma in the future.
An Oklahoma judge who sent more than 500 texts to her bailiff during a murder trial will resign, according to a court filing.
In a proposed settlement agreement filed Thursday with the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary, District Judge Traci Soderstrom agreed to resign on Friday and never again seek a judicial office in Oklahoma.
If accepted, the settlement would stop a trial scheduled to start Monday on a request to remove Soderstrom from the bench for reasons that include gross neglect of duty, oppression in office, lack of proper temperament and failure to supervise her office.
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OKLAHOMA CHIEF JUSTICE CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF JUDGE CAUGHT TEXTING DURING 2-YEAR-OLD'S MURDER TRIAL
Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice John Kane IV recommended Soderstrom be removed following an investigation that found she mocked prosecutors, laughed at the bailiff’s comment about a prosecutor’s genitals, praised the defense attorney and called the prosecutor’s key witness a liar during the murder trial of Khristian Tyler Martzall.
In this still image from security camera video, Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom looks at her cellphone during a murder trial on June 12, 2023, at the Lincoln County District Court in Chandler, Okla. Soderstrom has agreed to resign and never again seek a judicial office in Oklahoma. (The Oklahoman via AP/ Facebook)
Soderstrom, who was elected in November 2022 and took office on Jan. 9, 2023, voluntarily suspended herself in October.
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Soderstrom's resignation letter, given to local media, said she hoped to restore faith in the judicial system.
"I promised to uphold the Constitution in a fair, even-handed and efficient manner," Soderstrom said. "I believe that I have done so. However, being human, I have also faltered."
OKLAHOMA JUDGE CAUGHT SCROLLING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA DURING MURDER TRIAL
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The judge’s texts during Martzall's trial on a charge of killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old son included saying the prosecutor was "sweating through his coat," 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.
Martzall was eventually convicted of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to time served.
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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.