Courts

Judge Can't Be Bothered To Pay Attention To Murder Case, Scrolls Facebook Instead

Some things are more important than social media... like murder.

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judge phone justice and law concept.Male judge in a courtroom the gavel, working with smart phone and laptop and digital tablet computer on wood tableWe’re all probably addicted to our phones. I endlessly find myself scrolling when I should be working or playing with my kid or sleeping. I imagine everyone can relate. But you really have to know when to put it down, especially when there’s something really important going on. Like, for example, a murder trial.

According to reports, video surveillance footage of Lincoln County, Oklahoma Judge Traci Soderstrom reveals that she was scrolling on her phone during the trial of Khristian Tyler Martzall. Martzall was on trial for the death of his then-girlfriend’s 2-year-old son and was ultimately convicted of second degree manslaughter.

Soderstrom has not commented on her mid-trial phone habits. But the district attorney was happy to express his shock and disappointment, as reported by ABA Journal:

District Attorney Adam Panter said he reviewed the video after receiving a tip from courthouse personnel. The video confirms that Soderstrom “spent hours of the trial on her cellphone both texting and scrolling through social media,” Panter said in a statement to local media.

“It is both shocking and disappointing to learn,” Panter said in the statement. “Jurors are banned from using cellphones in the courtroom during trials because we expect them to give their full time and attention to the evidence being presented. I would expect and hope the court would hold itself to the same standard required of the jurors, regardless of the type of case.

“It is especially concerning in the present case, as it dealt with the death of a 2-year-old child and a defendant facing a possibility of up to life in prison.”

And when Soderstrom’s phone habits went public, what do you think she did? Apologize? Defend herself? NOPE? According to report she just MOVED THE CAMERA so she could scroll in peace. Something Panter was happy to comment on, “I am obviously concerned that the judge’s response is not to address the issue of her behavior but rather to move the camera that captured said behavior.” 

A copy of the video has been provided to the Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints. Which… yeah, that checks out.

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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.

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