Traci Soderstrom: Oklahoma judge resigns after being caught scrolling through phone during murder trial

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: ABC Correspondent Jaclyn Lee appeared on the February 11 episode of 'Good Morning America' to report on Oklahoma judge Traci Soderstrom's resignation after she was caught texting and scrolling through social media on her phone while a murder trial was underway.

Soderstrom had only held office for a year before stepping down from her position as a district judge in Lincoln County ahead of a special court trial that was scheduled to begin on February 12, according to The New York Times.

What were accusations against Traci Soderstrom?

The former judge was removed from the bench by the State Supreme Court after they accused her of gross neglect of duty, gross partiality in office, and other judicial conduct prohibited by the state’s Constitution.

Surveillance footage released by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office showed Soderstrom 'texting and scrolling on Facebook during a murder trial in the killing of a two-year-old', Lee stated in her report. Soderstrom was initially suspended with pay over the incident that took place in June 2023, before resigning on February 10.

What was Traci Soderstrom texting?

"An investigation revealed that she (Soderstrom) exchanged more than 500 text messages and emojis with a bailiff during the trial, including inappropriate comments about an eye-witness, and mocking presecutors," mentioned the GMA report.

During the state's direct examination of a witness, she reportedly texted, "This is dumb," while at the time of the eye-witness testimony, she wrote, "Can I please scream liar liar?"

Sodertrom also texted, "He's pretty. I could look at him all day," about a police officer on the stand.

According to the State Supreme Court, "the texts showed a lack of temperament to serve as a judge."

Traci Soderstrom's resignation statement

Soderstrom decided to resign from her post instead of going to trial in a special court, as she claimed that she wanted to use her voice to speak out against alleged misconduct in the judicial system.

In a statement during her resignation, she said, "I texted during a trial. It doesn’t matter whether it was a traffic case, or whether it was a divorce case, or whether it was a first-degree murder case. I texted during a trial and that was inappropriate.”

"I didn't make up my mind," she later added about the investigation report. "Even if I had, It would not have mattered, because I was not the fact finder. The fact finder was the jury."

"As a part of her resignation, Soderstrom agreed to never seek judicial office in Oklahoma again," concluded Lee.