February 16th 2024.
According to recent reports from CNN, an Oklahoma judge made the decision to step down from her position on February 9th. This came after allegations surfaced that she had been exchanging over 500 text messages during a high-profile murder trial in June. The judge in question, Traci Soderstrom of Lincoln County District, agreed to resign as part of a settlement with the state. She had been facing accusations of inappropriate behavior and was even petitioned to be removed from her position.
During the trial, it was discovered that Soderstrom had been constantly texting her courtroom bailiff, making derogatory comments about various trial participants and using offensive language to refer to the state's attorneys. The accusations, which were filed back in October 2023, included text messages where the judge made fun of attorneys, jurors, and witnesses alike. The Council on Judicial Complaints launched an investigation and found evidence of Soderstrom and her bailiff mocking a prosecutor's appearance. In one exchange, the judge even commented on how the district attorney was sweating through his coat. In another text, she questioned why he had "baby hands" and called them "weird looking." She also speculated about a juror potentially wearing a wig.
It seems that Soderstrom had a clear bias towards certain individuals involved in the trial. She had texted her bailiff, expressing her admiration for the defense attorney and asking if she could clap for her. She also made comments about a police officer who took the stand, calling him "pretty" and admitting that she could look at him all day. The judge even went as far as to offer her opinion on the outcome of the trial, stating that there was "no way" the defendant would be found guilty of murder due to a lack of DNA evidence.
It is concerning to note that Soderstrom was only elected in November 2022 and had served on the bench for a mere six months before these allegations came to light. The accusations against her were serious, including gross neglect of duty, gross partiality in office, and oppression in office. During a press conference, Soderstrom took some responsibility for her actions, acknowledging that she had behaved inappropriately by texting during a trial. She stated that it didn't matter what type of case it was, texting during a trial was unacceptable.
However, despite her admission, Soderstrom maintained that her texting did not affect her judgment or impartiality. She explained that the content and volume of the messages did not sway her decisions, and even if they had, she was not the fact-finder in the case. In the end, the defendant on trial was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter by the jury.
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