Decide accused of scrolling on her cellphone for ‘hours’ throughout homicide trial of 2-year-old boy — together with when mom cried on stand

An Oklahoma choose was caught on video constantly utilizing her cellphone through the homicide trial of a 2-year-old boy, as his mom cried on the stand testifying in opposition to her boyfriend.

Oklahoma District 23 Decide Traci Soderstrom has been accused of scrolling by social media, texting and even looking for a GIF throughout a trial final month in response to a courtroom surveillance video obtained by The Oklahoman.

All through the 50-minute-long video, Soderstrom holds her cellphone beneath the choose’s bench, texting or scrolling by Fb, each from time to time jotting down notes whereas her cellphone stays lit on her lap.

At one level, Judith Danker, the lady testifying, reached for a tissue to wipe her tears and blow her nostril because the choose glanced over to her after which again right down to her cellphone to reply a textual content.

Soderstrom had ordered the jury to show off their electronics so they might give attention to the proof shared through the June 12 courtroom proceedings.

The Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints has opened an investigation into Soderstrom’s actions after the council obtained the video from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Workplace.

Soderstrom, who works out of the Lincoln County Courthouse in Chandler, roughly 45 miles northeast from Oklahoma Metropolis, was elected to her seat final November and was sworn in on January 9 to start her four-year time period serving the district that features Lincoln and Pottawatomie counties.

The director of the council wouldn’t touch upon the investigation as its work into accusations of judicial misconduct is secret by regulation, according to the Associated Press.

Sgt. Aaron Bennett of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned cameras are positioned inside courtrooms for safety causes, however the sheriff’s workplace didn’t present the footage to the newspaper.

It’s unknown if Soderstrom was conscious of the digicam immediately behind her.

Each District Lawyer Adam Panter and protection legal professional Velia Lopez say they by no means noticed Soderstrom utilizing her cellphone, with Lopez even saying she did a “nice job.”

Panter mentioned he considered the courtroom video and located Soderstrom “spent hours of the trial” texting and scrolling on her cellphone, in response to AP.

“Jurors are banned from utilizing cellphones within the courtroom throughout trials as a result of we anticipate them to provide their full time and a spotlight to the proof being offered,” Panter mentioned. “I might anticipate and hope the courtroom would maintain itself to the identical normal required of the jurors, no matter the kind of case.”

Oklahoma judges are sure to the Code of Judicial Conduct which states: “A choose shall act always in a way that promotes public confidence within the independence, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary,”

The code doesn’t particularly point out the usage of cell phones.

The choose was overseeing the pretrial, jury choice and opening statements referring to the 2018 loss of life of Braxton Danker, 2, who suffered cardiac arrest after creating an an infection that began from diaper rash.

Lincoln County officers on the time discovered the kid with accidents throughout his physique together with damaged bones and open wounds that got here from being overwhelmed, according to News on 6.

Khristian Martzall and Danker have been each arrested and charged with first-degree homicide on the time, with loss of life penalty paperwork being filed in October 2018 for the 2 accused.

Danker took a plea deal in 2019 and was sentenced to 25 years in jail for enabling or allowing youngster abuse.

Martzall was convicted of second-degree manslaughter on the trial, that concluded.