A judge in Louisiana asked for forgiveness and understanding after a video surfaced showing her making racist remarks while her family watched security footage of an attempted break-in at their home.
A black man was arrested in connection with the Lafayette City Court judge's home being burgled over the weekend.
A video that was circulating after the incident appeared to show members of her family joking and using the N-word while they watched the security footage.
The footage was from her home, and she confirmed it to local news site The Current. It is unclear who shot it, who is using the language, and who sent it to the local media.
The video contains disturbing and explicit language and was published by the site.
At one point, a voice is heard saying, "And mom's yelling nr, nr," to which a woman's voice replied, "We have a nr." It is a nr, like a roach.
According to The Current, Odinet said she had been unable to sleep since the incident, had taken a sedative at the time of the video, and didn't remember what was said.
My children and I were the victims of an armed robbery at our home. The police were called to the scene. She said the incident shook her core and her mental state was fragile.
I'm still not able to sleep because I was a wreck. I was given a drug at the time of the video. I have no recollection of the video or the language used in it.
She said that anyone who knows her and her husband knows that this is contrary to the way they live their lives. I am deeply sorry and ask for your forgiveness as I deal with the emotional aftermath of this armed robbery.
Lafayette police said there was no weapon found on the man they arrested.
In November of 2020, a Republican was elected as a city court judge.
Local officials and community members called for her resignation after seeing the footage.
Lafayette City Marshall Reggie Thomas said in a lengthy statement that he believes Judge Odinet should be held accountable.
People of color will find it hard to trust that they will be treated fairly when they have to stand for judgement. He said that this type of language cannot be accepted by anyone, especially those who serve as leaders in the city.
The comments were reprehensible, and the state senator would investigate them.
He said in a statement that he would officially petition the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana to investigate ethical conduct and actions associated with the recent developments.
In November 2020, she was elected to her seat.
