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 for the killing of a 2-year-old boy could lose her job.
Soderstrom was sworn in as a judge in January. In July,The Oklahomanpublished a video of Soderstrom appearing to use her phone for minutes at a time during jury selection, opening statements and key testimony.
Traci Soderstrom.The Oklahoma State Courts Network
The Oklahoma State Courts Network
The June trial was for the 2018 death of toddler Braxton Danker. The trial ended with a second-degree manslaughter conviction for Khristian Tyler Martzall, who beat the child to death. Martzall was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
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The AP reported that Kane wrote that Soderstrom’s actions showed neglect and warranted her removal from the bench.
“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.”
According to the petition, the bailiff made a “crass” remark about the prosecutor’s genitalia, to which Soderstrom reportedly responded with a laughing emoji.
“It is both shocking and disappointing,” District Attorney Adam Panter toldThe Oklahomanafter the newspaper published the video showing Soderstrom’s phone use. “Jurors are banned from using cellphones in the courtroom during trials because we expect them to give their full time and attention to the evidence being presented. I would expect and hope the court would hold itself to the same standard required of the jurors, regardless of the type of case.”
source: people.com
