A newspaper reports that a new judge in Oklahoma is facing scrutiny after courtroom video showed her scrolling through social media and texting throughout a murder trial
CHANDLER, Okla. — — A new judge in Oklahoma is facing scrutiny after courtroom video showed her scrolling through social media and texting throughout a murder trial, a newspaper reports.shows Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom texting or messaging for minutes at a time during jury selection, opening statements and testimony in the trial for a man in the beating death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old son. At one point, Soderstrom searched for a GIF, an animated image.
The trial ended in a second-degree manslaughter conviction for Khristian Tyler Martzall in the 2018 death of Braxton Danker. Prosecutors had asked jurors to find him guilty of first-degree murder. The sheriff said the cameras were placed in the courtroom for safety reasons. He said there's no sound on the video, which is monitored by his office.
“It is both shocking and disappointing,” he told the newspaper. “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.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Timberview High School Trial Day 2: Surveillance video, new cellphone video evidence; State restsJurors saw new surveillance video from inside the school and different angled cell phone video of the fight that led to the shooting.
Read more »
$2B theme park, similar to Disneyland, coming to OklahomaThe American Heartland Theme Park and Resort will be a 1,000-acre development with a 125-acre theme park, comparable to the size of Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.
Read more »
Video: Surveillance video released in drive-by shooting at North Philadelphia vigilNew video released of a drive-by shooting, that injured five people, during a vigil in North Philadelphia, shows the vehicle as it zeroes in on the gathering.
Read more »
Oklahoma Boy Discovers 'Terrifying' Fish With Human-Like Teeth In PondThe fish is an invasive species that's usually found throughout the Amazon and other parts of South America.
Read more »