Oklahoma District Judge Resigns After Sending SPICY Texts During Murder Trial

The decision, announced on Friday, comes after a video surfaced last summer showing Soderstrom sending over 500 text messages to her bailiff while presiding over a case involving the fatal beating of a toddler. The messages included inappropriate comments about the prosecutors and the mother of the victim.

Soderstrom's resignation comes just four days before she was due to face trial in a special court. In a letter of resignation shared with local media, Soderstrom stated, "I promised to uphold the Constitution in a fair, even-handed and efficient manner. I believe that I have done so. However, being human, I have also faltered."

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Soderstrom further suggested that her decision to resign, rather than face trial, was influenced by her belief that she would not receive a fair hearing. "My core belief in personal responsibility requires me to publicly take responsibility for my transgressions and defend the allegations that are false," she wrote. "I believed the best avenue for that was with a public trial. I have stood by that decision without fear."

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Soderstrom's letter also contained allegations of misconduct by others within the judiciary, including manipulation of the jury selection process and unlawful detention of citizens. However, she did not provide any evidence to support these claims.

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February 10, 2024

As part of a proposed settlement agreement with the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary, Soderstrom has pledged never to seek judicial office again in Oklahoma. This follows a recommendation by the chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in October for Soderstrom's removal due to accusations of gross neglect of duty, oppression in office, lack of proper temperament, and failure to supervise her office.

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The controversy surrounding Soderstrom, who only assumed her position in January 2023, began after The Oklahoman published security footage showing her sending numerous text messages during the trial of Khristian Martzall, accused of killing 2-year-old Braxton Danker. An investigation revealed that Soderstrom had made derogatory comments about a prosecutor and the defense attorney, and had even questioned the credibility of the victim's mother, Judith Danker, who was a key witness for the prosecution.

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Soderstrom voluntarily suspended herself in October when her misconduct was exposed. Her term was set to expire in January 2027. Following the trial, Martzall was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to time served. Danker, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to enabling or permitting child abuse and received a 25-year prison sentence.