The Clerk of Courts office in downtown Lafayette, La. has a candidate for Lafayette City Court Judge. July 22, 2020.
As condemnations and calls to resign mount for Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet over use of a racist slur in a video taken at her house, the judge likely won't lose her seat unless she resigns.
The judge confirmed that a video of multiple people using a racist slur was taken from her home after a failed attempt to break into her house.
The video doesn't show any of the speakers, but multiple voices say "n----" while watching the footage of the attempted break-in.
While watching the security footage, a male voice said, "mom's yelling, n--, n--."
"We have a race." A female voice says that it's a n-----.
The Lafayette Police Department said Tuesday that there was no indication that the suspect had a weapon.
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nullOdinet, who was elected to the bench just more than a year ago, has four children and is married to the Lafayette Parish Coroner.
The Clerk of Courts office in downtown Lafayette, La. has a candidate for Lafayette City Court Judge. July 22, 2020.
The NAACP President Michael Toussaint told KLFY Monday night that hate, in any form, cannot stand and must be condemned, after the video was first reported by the Current Monday.
Toussaint said that one would think that a sitting judge, a mother, a community leader, a person in position of authority would have stepped up and taken a stand against that type of language in her own home.
The Louisiana Democratic Party called for the resignation of the Chair.
The citizens of Lafayette deserve to have confidence in the judicial system, but that won't happen while she is on the bench.
The chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party.
We won't tolerate bigotry from the bench. Lafayette needs a new judge because fairness and impartiality cannot coexist with racism.
Edward "Ted" James, Chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, said that "black robe can never hide what's obviously in her heart", and called on her to resign.
James said that a sitting judge shouldn't use any racial slurs or show bias.
The citizens of Lafayette deserve to have confidence in the judicial system, according to state Rep.Vincent Pierre.
Pierre said that over half of those that go before city court judges are African Americans who have no confidence in the ability of the judges to rule fairly.
Reggie Thomas, the first Black official to be elected to the office of City Marshall in Lafayette, condemned the condemned woman Tuesday, saying her mere ineffectual and weak apology wouldn't suffice.
"It is up to Judge Odinet to remember the oath she took and should she remain on the bench, find a way to gain back the trust of all of Lafayette, especially African Americans," Thomas said.
Reggie Thomas is with his family and friends. December 5, 2020.
The video is offensive and unacceptable from anyone serving as a judge, according to state Sen. Gerald Boudreaux.
He said that the comments failed to identify any form of protest and cast a cloud over the impartiality of the judge to serve as an impartial arbiter in cases involving African Americans.
The Judicial Commission of Louisiana, which oversees the conduct and punishment of elected judges, is being asked to investigate the incident.
The new Fire Station #3 will be located at . The original fire station was torn down in 2020 due to structural concerns, and will be replaced with a new 7300 square foot building. The cost of the new construction is estimated. July 19th, 2021.
Efforts to remove him from the City Court bench are likely to be difficult.
In Louisiana, judges are the only elected officials who are protected from recall petitions.
If a number of registered voters sign a petition, other elected officials can be recalled. State law exempts judges from being subject to such petitions.
The Louisiana Supreme Court can remove an elected judge from the bench, but it can take several months or even years.
State law allows the Supreme Court to suspend, remove from office, or retire a judge if they deem the judicial office to be in disrepute for persistent and public conduct.
If there are more instances of the racist slur used in the video that come to light, the law could make a case to remove him.
When asked if she would resign Tuesday morning, she did not reply.
Andrew Capps can be reached via email at acapps@theadvertiser.com.
The article originally appeared on the Daily Advertiser.
