Story at a glance
- Judge Michelle Odinet resigned her seat on the Lafayette City Court on Friday.
- In a video that surfaced in early December, Odinet and others could be heard using racist language while watching and describing a car burglary that occurred at her home.
- Odinet was on unpaid leave prior to her resignation.
A Louisiana judge has resigned weeks after a video of her using racial slurs surfaced on the internet.
Judge Michelle Odinet resigned her seat on the Lafayette City Court on Friday, issuing a resignation letter to Chief Justice John Weimer.
“I take full responsibility for the hurtful words I used to describe the individual who burglarized the vehicles at my home,” Odinet wrote. “I am sorry for the pain that I have caused my community and ask for your forgiveness, as my words did not foster the public’s confidence and integrity for the judiciary. After much reflection and prayer, and in order to facilitate healing within the community, I hereby resign as judge of the Lafayette City Court effective immediately.”
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In the video, which surfaced in early December, Odinet and others could be heard using racist language while watching and describing a car burglary that occurred at her home.
“And Mom’s yelling ‘n—–, n—–,'” says a male voice, with a female voice responding, “We have a n—–, It’s a n—–, like a roach.”
A 59-year-old Black man was later arrested and charged with the burglary, according to The Associated Press.
After the clip went viral, Odinet initially released a statement saying she had taken a sedative that night and had “zero recollection of the video and the disturbing language used during it.”
Odinet was on unpaid leave prior to her resignation.
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