The judge was texting in the middle of a child murder trial in the USA – 2024-03-10 00:54:46

According to the evidence, the judge mocked the prosecutors in his messages during the hearing. Ismo Pekkarinen, AOP

An Oklahoma state judge has resigned after he was caught texting and taunting prosecutors during a trial. The trial dealt with the murder case of a two-year-old child.

According to KSNT, Lincoln County District Judge Loses Soderstrom was investigated at the request of the state Supreme Court’s chief justice after Soderstrom mocked prosecutors, praised a defense attorney, laughed at a bailiff’s comment and called a prosecution witness a liar during the trial.

Soderstrom presided over a murder trial in which a man was accused of fatally beating his girlfriend’s two-year-old son. The accused was eventually sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated manslaughter.

President of the Supreme Court John Kane IV introduced evidence showing Soderstrom placing her phone in her lap and texting during jury selection, opening statements and testimony. Soderstrom is believed to have sent more than 500 text messages to the bailiff.

“Judge Soderstrom and the bailiff called the witnesses in the murder trial liars, admired the appearance of the police officer who testified, expressed bias in favor of the defendant, and showed gross bias against the state,” Kane IV wrote in his petition.

Soderstrom is accused of gross neglect of duty, abuse of office and neglect of supervisory arrangements. He voluntarily recused himself in October and resigned from his post in February.

– I texted during the trial. It doesn’t matter if it was a traffic incident, a divorce or a murder. I texted during the session and it was inappropriate, Soderstrom wrote in her resignation letter.

– I promised to follow the constitution in a fair, equitable and efficient manner. I believe I did. As a person, however, I have wavered.