09 February 2024 , 21:24
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A judge who was caught sending hundreds of texts during a murder trial - including making jibes about the prosecutor's genitals - is set to resign.
Oklahoma City District Judge Traci Soderstrom was left red-faced after 500 texts to between her and her bailiff were revealed during a court filing. She is set to leave her position by the weekend and not take up another seat in the state's judicial office, a settlement document has revealed.
If agreed, the settlement would stop a trial which is scheduled to take place on Monday as attorneys attempt to remove Soderstrom from the bench for "gross neglect of duty, as well as oppression in office, lack of proper temperament and failure to supervise her office."
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The Oklahoma judge made a number of inappropriate comments during the trial (NBC)Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice John Kane IV said that the judge should be removed following an investigation that found she mocked prosecutors, laughed at the bailiff’s comment about a prosecutor’s genitals and praised the defense attorney. She also called the prosecutor’s key witness a liar during the murder trial of Khristian Tyler Martzall.
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Soderstrom was elected in November 2022 and took office on January 9, 2023, but voluntarily suspended herself in October. A resignation was distributed to local media and explained how she hoped to "restore faith in the judicial system". It added: “I promised to uphold the Constitution in a fair, even-handed and efficient manner. I believe that I have done so. However, being human, I have also faltered.”
The texts came while Martzall was on trial accused of killing his girlfriend's two-year-old son. Messages included mocking remarks about how the prosecutor was "sweating through his coat" before describing the defence attorney as "awesome" before asking if she could clap for her during her opening arguments.
The judge is set to step down from her role because of the texts (NBC)An emoji was also exchanged between the judge and her bailiff, which included "crass and demeaning" references to the prosecuting attorney's genitals.
Martzall was eventually convicted of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to time served. 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 (72 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City.