‘Humiliated, Embarrassed’ Louisiana Judge To Go On Unpaid Leave Following Racist Video Leak
A Lafayette, La., judge is reportedly taking an unpaid leave of absence from the bench after facing calls for her resignation following the recent leak of a video containing her using racist language.
Dane Ciolino, an attorney for City Court Judge Michelle M. Odinet told the Acadiana Advocate that his client feels "humiliated, embarrassed, and sorry for what she has done and the harm she has caused to the community," and is taking unpaid leave.
"What happens in the long term is something she is going to think about in the weeks to come," Ciolino said in a statement.
In the video, Odinet watches security footage of what appears to be a failed burglary at her home early Saturday morning. Liberal use of the N-word is heard from viewers who aren’t visible on camera.
KLFY in Lafayette spoke with the judge who had an excuse for her behavior explaining, "my children and I were the victim of an armed burglary at our home. The police were called and the assailant was arrested. The incident shook me to my core and my mental state was fragile."
The station reports that 59-year old Ronald Handy, who is Black, was arrested and charged with two counts of simple burglary. Police confirmed that the man had no weapon when he was arrested at the judge’s home, despite her claims of an “armed burglary.”
Odinet confirmed that the video was made at her home, but she claims to have taken a sedative at the time the video was made and she doesn't remember it.
"That's me," one viewer says while watching the security footage of the man being caught. "And Mom's yelling 'n---, n---.'" Another viewer says, "We have a n-----. It's a n-----, like a roach."
The group continues talking back and forth. At one point they’re laughing at someone in the surveillance video tripping and someone else losing their wallet.
A male voice is then heard saying, "That's my phone where it fell out."
"The dude had a phone on him," a female voice chimes in. "You should have taken his phone and stolen from him, that f*****g a*****e."
"Go and get the gun," says another voice. "It's important, very important," says a male voice as the video continues.
"I was given a sedative at the time of the video. I have zero recollection of the video and the disturbing language used during it. Anyone who knows me and my husband, knows this is contrary to the way we live our lives," Odinet's statement said. "We ask for your understanding, forgiveness, patience and prayers.”
The president of the Lafayette Chapter of the NAACP, the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, and the Lafayette City Marshal and others have all called for Odinet's resignation.
"We call now for her immediate and uncompromising resignation, failing same, we demand swift and immediate act by the Judiciary Committee of the Louisiana Supreme Court, removing her from office," said Lafayette NAACP Chapter President Michael Toussaint, according to CNN.
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, echoed the calls for resignation and said the judge had shown "immense racial bias and insensitivity."
