An Oklahoma judge agreed to resign Friday after he was caught on video last summer sending more than 500 texts to his bailiff while presiding over a homicide trial in the beating death of a toddler — including messages mocking prosecutors and the victim’s sobbing mother.
District Judge Traci Soderstrom decided to step down from the bench just four days before she was scheduled to stand trial in a special court.
“I pledge to uphold the Constitution in a fair, just and efficient manner,” Soderstrom wrote in part in his resignation letter released to local media. “I believe that I have done so. However, as a human being, I also waver.”
Elsewhere in his statement, Soderstrom suggested that his decision to quit, rather than spend his day in court, was inspired by his belief that he would not get a fair trial.
“My core belief in personal responsibility requires that I take public responsibility for my transgressions and defend false allegations,” he wrote.
“I believe the best way for that is with a public hearing. I stand by that decision without fear.”
Oklahoma District Judge Traci Soderstrom resigned Friday after being vilified for sending 500 texts during a murder trial she presided over. Lincoln County District Court Security video from the courtroom shows Soderstrom playing with his phone during a June 2023 trial in the killing of a 2-year-old boy. AP
“What I discovered about the behavior of others while I was behind closed doors of the judiciary and during the preparation for my trial was nothing if not shocking,” he said. “Manipulating the jury selection process, detaining citizens without lawful authority, secret tape recording of judicial officers, and even false threats of criminal prosecution are small examples.”
In his letter, Soderstrom provided no evidence to support his claims.
Under a proposed settlement agreement filed with the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary, Soderstrom pledged never to seek judicial office again in Oklahoma.
The judge texted his bailiff that a prosecutor was “sweating through his coat” and called the defense attorney “great.” The Oklahoman, /YouTube
The chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in October recommended Soderstrom be removed from the bench on charges of gross neglect of duty, oppression in office, lack of proper conduct and failure to supervise his office.
The push to oust Soderstrom — who was just sworn in as a judge in January 2023 — came after The Oklahoman published security video showing a lawyer sending swirling text messages during Khristian Martzall’s trial for killing a 2-year-old child. Braxton Danker.
The investigation found that Soderstrom texted that a prosecutor was “sweating through his coat” and sent a laughing emoji in response to his bailiff’s “cruel and degrading” comments about the prosecuting attorney’s privates.
Soderstrom presided over the homicide trial in the death of 2-year-old Braxton Danker, who was beaten to death. Boydston-Bailey Funeral Home Khristian Martzall, the boyfriend of the child’s mother, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to prison. Lincoln County Jail
He also described the defense attorney as “awesome” and asked “Can I give him a round of applause?” during defense attorneys’ opening arguments, according to a petition by Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice John Kane IV seeking Soderstrom’s removal.
When Judith Danker, the slain boy’s mother, took the stand as the prosecution’s key witness, Soderstrom texted: “Can I yell ‘liar, liar?'”
Other messages sent by a judge during his first murder trial questioned whether a juror was wearing a wig and whether a witness had teeth.
Braxton’s mother, Judith Danker, took a plea deal and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Lincoln County Jail
During one text exchange, the judge impersonated a male police officer, calling her “beautiful” and saying that he “could look at her all day.”
Soderstrom voluntarily hanged himself in October after his messages were revealed. His four-year term will end in January 2027.
Martzall was eventually convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to prison.
Danker pleaded guilty to allowing or allowing child abuse and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
With Postal wire
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