US Judge Who Sends More Than 500 Texts During Murder Trial Resigns

A US judge agreed to step down Friday after she had been caught on video consistently using her phone during her own court hearing. 

 

Oklahoma District 23 Judge Traci Soderstrom was accused of scrolling through social media, texting, and even searching for a GIF during a murder trial in June 2023, according to a courtroom surveillance video obtained by The Oklahoman.

 

Soderstrom also agreed to not seek judicial office again in Oklahoma under a proposed settlement agreement filed with the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary. She had faced removal from the bench over accusations that included gross neglect of duty, oppression in office, lack of proper temperament and failure to supervise her office.

 

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. 

 

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 7-day trial in Chandler, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City.

 

Soderstrom, who took office last year, voluntarily suspended herself in October. 

 

The judge’s texts during Khristian Tyler Martzall’s trial on a charge of killing Braxton Danker, 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. In all, Soderstrom sent more than 500 texts to her bailiff. 

 

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. 

 

[Note: Prosecutors asked jurors to find Martzall guilty of first-degree murder, but he was ultimately convicted of second-degree manslaughter. His girlfriend, Judith Danker was also charged but took a plea deal].