In a shocking turn of events, an Oklahoma judge has resigned from her position after allegedly exchanging over 500 inappropriate texts with a bailiff during a murder trial. Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom stepped down on Friday as part of a settlement with the state, following accusations of misconduct on the bench. The state had petitioned for her removal from office, citing instances of mocking trial participants and offensive remarks about the state's attorneys.

Judge Soderstrom had held the position in the 23rd Judicial District of Oklahoma since January 2023, with her term set to expire in January 2027. However, a petition filed in October shed light on her misconduct during a June murder trial. The petition detailed text exchanges in which Soderstrom made fun of attorneys, jurors, and witnesses, displaying a clear bias towards the defendant and favoritism towards the defense attorney.

The accusations against Soderstrom included gross neglect of duty, gross partiality in office, and oppression in office. The Council on Judicial Complaints found that she and the courtroom bailiff exchanged numerous texts during the trial, with the texts mocking a prosecutor's appearance and praising a defense attorney's comments. The petition also revealed that Soderstrom referred to the district attorney as "sweating through his coat" and made derogatory comments about his physical appearance.

Furthermore, Soderstrom's texts showed inappropriate behavior towards witnesses and jurors. She commented on a police officer's appearance, describing him as “pretty” and stating that she could "look at him all day." The judge also used offensive language to describe a video played to a witness, speculated about a juror wearing a wig, and expressed doubt about the defendant's guilt due to a lack of DNA evidence.

In her resignation statement released by her attorney, Soderstrom acknowledged her mistakes but maintained that she had tried to ensure equal application of the law and procedures. She admitted to faltering as a human but believed that her core beliefs and principles were better suited for advocating rather than arbitrating. The settlement agreement does not contain any admission of wrongdoing, but Soderstrom agreed not to seek another judicial position in Oklahoma.

This scandal has raised concerns about the integrity of the judiciary system and the need for accountability among elected officials. While Judge Soderstrom's resignation may provide some closure, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact public trust in the judiciary.