Khristian Tyler Martzall, a 32-year-old individual, was accused of treating Braxton like a "punching bag." Despite the seriousness of the situation and the need for justice to be served, Martzall was ultimately convicted of second-degree manslaughter and released after serving his time.
However, during the trial, the judge presiding over the case, Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom, seemed unable to divert her attention from her phone.
Security videos obtained by The Oklahoman from the Chandler courtroom revealed that Judge Soderstrom was seen browsing Facebook, searching for a GIF, and texting while the trial unfolded. This included moments when the victim's mother, who had been convicted, tearfully testified.
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It is worth noting that Judge Soderstrom had instructed the jury at the beginning of the trial to turn off their electronic devices or at least put them in airplane mode to ensure their full concentration on the evidence presented.
July 28, 2023
Despite her own instructions, the footage captured by the ceiling camera above Judge Soderstrom showed her repeatedly using her phone during opening statements and testimonies. District Attorney Adam Panter, upon reviewing the footage, expressed shock and disappointment, stating that the judge had spent hours of the trial texting and scrolling through social media. Panter emphasized that jurors are prohibited from using cell phones in the courtroom during trials to ensure their undivided attention to the evidence. He expected the court to hold itself to the same standard.
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Instead of addressing her behavior, Judge Soderstrom chose to have the camera moved, according to Panter. Defense attorney Velia Lopez, whose client avoided a first-degree murder conviction, claimed not to have witnessed the judge's distracted behavior. However, the Oklahoman highlighted that if a judge loses control of a trial by being absent from the bench, it could potentially lead to the dismissal of a criminal conviction, a situation the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has not previously encountered.
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The Code of Judicial Conduct, which Oklahoma judges are bound by, states that judges should always act in a manner that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary. The New York Post reported that the Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints is currently investigating Judge Soderstrom. Taylor Henderson, the director of the council, could not confirm the existence of an investigation due to the secrecy surrounding such matters. However, the courtroom footage has been withheld from the Associated Press, as it is being used by the Council on Judicial Complaints, according to Sgt. Aaron Bennett of the county sheriff's office.
Judge Soderstrom was elected to her position in November and began her term on January 9. Her term is set to end in 2027. This scandal involving Judge Soderstrom comes shortly after another case in which a murder conviction was overturned due to the former Oklahoma County judge, Tim Henderson, having an affair with one of the prosecutors assigned to the case. These incidents raise concerns about the integrity and impartiality of the judicial system in Oklahoma.
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