"Son Murdered" Mother Weeps... Judge Absorbed in Phone During Trial Sparks Controversy in US

Judge Demanded "Turn Off Electronic Devices" Before Trial
"But Actually Used Phone for Distractions Throughout the Trial"

A judge in the United States has sparked controversy after being caught using his cellphone to send messages and engaging in other distractions during a trial.

The New York Post and others reported that Tracy Soderstrom (50), a judge at the Lincoln County District Court in Oklahoma, was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) using her cellphone throughout the trial, drawing public criticism.

A judge looking at a cellphone during the trial. [Image source=YouTube channel 'The Oklahoman']

According to reports, Soderstrom presided over a trial in June involving a man accused of beating his girlfriend's two-year-old son to death. Before the trial began, she asked the jurors to turn off their electronic devices to focus on the evidence presented during the trial.

However, she herself fiddled with her smartphone throughout the proceedings, including during the defendant's testimony. She was seen sending text messages, accessing social media, and even searching for GIF images.

During the trial, the child's mother, Judith Danker, tearfully stated, "My boyfriend killed my son." Nevertheless, Soderstrom remained unfazed and did not put down her smartphone.

Following this, the Oklahoma Judicial Complaints Commission began an investigation into Soderstrom's conduct after receiving the footage from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. It was reported that she used her cellphone during seven separate trials.

Local prosecutor Adam Panter stated, "Jurors are prohibited from using cellphones in the courtroom during trials because they must devote all their time and attention to the evidence presented." He added, "I hope the court applies the same standards to judges as it does to jurors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.