A judge is being investigated for scrolling on her cell phone during a murder trial of a man accused of beating his two-year-old son to death.
Oklahoma Judge Traci Soderstrom was caught on security video using her phone to text and browse social media during jury selection, opening statements and testimony in the trial for a man charged with the fatal beating of his girlfriend’s son.
Khristian Tyler Martzall was convicted for second-degree manslaughter for in the 2018 death of Braxton Danker.
The toddler was found by Lincoln County officials with injuries all over his body including broken bones and open wounds, according to News on 6.
Braxton’s mother Judith Danker, who testified at Martzall’s hearing, took a plea deal in 2019 after being accused of murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison for enabling or permitting child abuse.
While Danker tearfully speaks in the stand, the Lincoln County District judge can be seen using her cell. When Danker reaches for a tissue to wipe her eyes and blow her nose, the judge glances over before looking back down at the screen.
Soderstrom, 50, is now being investigated by the Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints.
Taylor Henderson, the council’s director, said its work looking into accusations of misconduct by judges is secret by law and that she could not comment on whether it is investigating.
Ms Soderstrom declined to comment to The Oklahoman, who originally released the video footage, because the verdict in the murder case could still be appealed, saying judges are prohibited from discussing pending cases.
In the footage she can also be seen checking Facebook during the trial, which began last month in Chandler, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City. At one point, she searches for a GIF.
The judge was sworn in on Jan 9 after being elected in November. Her four-year term expires in January 2027.
Sheriff Charlie Dougherty told the newspaper that he provided videos from the trial to the council at its request.
District Attorney Adam Panter said he reviewed the video after getting a tip from courthouse personnel. He said he found the judge ‘spent hours of the trial’ texting and scrolling on her cellphone.
