Louisiana governor, National Bar Association, urge judge to resign over racist video

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and the National Bar Association joined calls for Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet to resign over a racist video filmed at her home over the weekend.

Odinet's attorney Dane Ciolino confirmed Thursday the judge has notified the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana that she is taking an unpaid leave from the court to consider her path forward.

"She's ready to accept an unpaid leave," Ciolino said. "As for what long-term plans she might have, she's going to think about that over the next few weeks and figure out what's best for her and the community and go from there."

Ciolino said there is not a determined timeline for Odinet's period of leave yet. An interim judge will be appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

The judge is "embarrassed and humiliated and sorry for what she has done and the harm she has caused to the community," he told KLFY Wednesday.

"I know that the judge has taken a period of unpaid leave to reflect on what her next move should be, and I believe she has all but acknowledged that the words uttered in that video were hers," Edwards said Thursday.

"Quite frankly, there's no place for that kind of language, especially among members of the judiciary who have the most important role in administering justice in our state."

Odinet's unpaid leave of absence followed widespread calls for her to resign this week after multiple people were recorded using a racist slur in a video over the weekend, which the judge confirmed was taken at her home following a failed burglary attempt early Saturday morning.

More: Racist slurs heard in video at Louisiana judge's home, calls for resignation intensify

The video does not show any of the speakers heard during the clip, but multiple voices repeatedly say “n—” while watching footage of the attempted burglary.

"Mom's yelling, n—, n—," a male voice says, recounting the incident while watching the security footage.

"We have a n—. It's a n—, like a roach," a female voice adds.

The attempted burglary occurred early Saturday morning at Odinet’s home and was caught on her security cameras. A 59-year-old Black male was arrested and charged with two counts of simple burglary in connection with the incident.

Odinet, who was elected to the bench just more than a year ago, said in a statement to The Daily Advertiser Tuesday that she hasn't slept since the burglary and did not remember the racist language captured in the video.

"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.

"We ask for your understanding, forgiveness, patience and prayers," she added.

Two Black defendants have already filed to have Odinet recuse herself from their cases after the video was first reported on Monday, arguing "that she is prejudiced and bias (sic) against African Americans."

Recusal:Two Black defendants want Lafayette Judge Odinet off cases after racist video surfaces

Edwards said he would expect every Black defendant before her going forward to make similar arguments.

"I believe that you would see perhaps all, if she were not to resign, perhaps all of the litigants before her who were African-American would seek her recusal, and I'm not sure she has a valid basis for denying that recusal," he added.

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"So there is no efficient administration of justice if she stays on the bench. So it would be my hope that this period of reflection that she's going through would lead her to that same conclusion. I believe she should resign. I hope she will conclude that for herself."

Black elected officials from Lafayette and around the state have called on Odinet to resign in the wake of the video, and on Wednesday those calls were echoed by the National Bar Association, which bills itself as the country's largest network of predominantly Black lawyers and judges.

Condemnations mount: Lafayette Judge Odinet likely won’t be removed without resigning

"Judge Odinet's statements were absolutely disgusting and as President of the National Bar Association, I am calling for her to resign from her post as judge. I too, am a judge and as a member of the bench and a Black man, I am highly offended, and do not believe Odinet deserves to be in the ranks of the judiciary," NBA President Carlos Moore said in a statement Wednesday.

Edwards and Moore joined a cadre of other public figures who have condemned Odinet or called for her resignation in the video’s wake, including City Marshal Reggie Thomas, the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and Representative Troy Carter Sr., D-New Orleans.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Gov. John Bel Edwards, National Bar Association urge Judge Michelle Odinet to resign