Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet
The Louisiana Supreme Court has ordered Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet off the bench without pay while she’s investigated for making racial slurs on a video that went viral and has garnered national headlines. Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt said such a suspension by the Supreme Court is rare.
“About as rare as it is to have a Judge caught, recorded using racial slurs. So it doesn’t happen often to be sure, but part of this case is she was caught in a recorded statement-making what can only be described as a terribly inappropriate racial slur,” said Borghardt.
Borghardt said he expects the suspension could drag out for some time while she’s investigated, the Judge does have the right to defend herself. In her defense, Odinet has stated she was on a sedative and does remember making such statements when watching surveillance footage of an alleged burglary outside of her home.
“Does that mean that she has a substance abuse problem? All of these are questions that can be vetted out and she has a right to defend herself just as we have a right as a community to be concerned about judges making racial slurs,” said Borghardt.
Borghardt said it’s not an ideal situation whatsoever, you don’t want a jurist overseeing proceedings when they could have perceived biased against a person or community.
“To be sure some of the attention is deserved and we should be concerned. Now does the fact that she used a racial slur mean that she can’t be a judge? Well that’s for the Supreme Court to decide,” said Borghardt.
Retired Opelousas City Court Judge Vanessa Harris will take over Odinet’s docket through February 28th. Harris becomes the first black judge in Lafayette City Court history.
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