A Louisiana judge has asked for “forgiveness and understanding” after a video was leaked in which she and her family made racist comments.
As Odinet told The Current, early Saturday morning, police responded to a call of an “armed burglary” at the judge’s residence. The suspect was apprehended by Odinet’s family and held down until police arrived.
Police reports do not mention the suspect had a weapon and the charges did not include it was an “armed” burglary.
Video leaked online of what took place after, when the family was watching and commenting on security footage showing the attempted theft and the family stopping it. In what was confirmed by Odinet, the voices heard are her family’s.
In addition to calling the man the n-word, they compared him to a roach, and joked they should have stolen his phone.
Judge Michelle Odinet announced she will be taking an unpaid leave of absence after the news broke.
It can be difficult for people to listen to.
WARNING: racial slurs
This is DISGUSTING! Judge Michelle Odinet is captured on video using racial slurs while reviewing home security footage. People's lives are in HER HANDS on a daily basis. This level of hate & racial bias should not be in our courtrooms! She needs to RESIGN!pic.twitter.com/TVny8kcaUZ— Ben Crump (@Ben Crump) 1639538580
You can file a complaint with the Louisiana Judicial Commission to help get racist Judge Michelle Odinet removed from the bench. \n\nCall (504) 568-8299 & ask the commission to quickly review the complaints that have been filed against the judge. \n\nAll her cases must be reviewed.— Gary Chambers (@Gary Chambers) 1639581222
Judge Michelle Odinet is a disgusting racist and she must resign.— Mayo (@Mayo) 1639526553
Every black defendant sentenced in the past by her has grounds for a retrial too.— \ud835\udd7f\ud835\udd8d\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd99 \ud835\udd72\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd97\ud835\udd91 \ud835\udd7f\ud835\udd8d\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd99 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd8a\ud835\udd98\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd98\ud835\udd99\ud835\udd98 (@\ud835\udd7f\ud835\udd8d\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd99 \ud835\udd72\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd97\ud835\udd91 \ud835\udd7f\ud835\udd8d\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd99 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd8a\ud835\udd98\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd98\ud835\udd99\ud835\udd98) 1639531095
Seems to me like Michelle Odinet should be forced to resign as a judge after being caught on video using the N-word repeatedly and her verdicts against people of color should be investigated and reversed. She\u2019s no judge, she\u2019s a white supremacist in a black robe.— Ricky Davila (@Ricky Davila) 1639586514
Judge Michelle Odinet, YOU ABOUT TO LOSE YO JOBpic.twitter.com/j5zKosLwKn— THEE MOST HATED OG \u00a9\ufe0f (@THEE MOST HATED OG \u00a9\ufe0f) 1639512578
Odinet blamed her actions on a sedative she took and the anxiety of suffering an attempted burglary. She also claimed this was counter to how she and her husband live their lives.
However, not everyone was convinced. Earlier this year, the Odinets were at the center of the anti-mask controversy.
Judge Odinet insisted in her court attorneys and clients not wear masks while addressing her. This flabbergasted attorneys who’d never seen anything like it.
Additionally, Odinet’s son, Eli, spoke in opposition to a mask mandate at a Lafayette city council meeting.
It appears the family is a summary of modern right-wing politics.
The last speaker at last nights council meeting, Eli Odinet, who opposed a mask mandate, is the son of Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet. A lawyer who regularly appears before Odinet says the judge instructs attorneys & their clients to remove masks when addressing her.pic.twitter.com/Vzvz4wlB98— David Begnaud (@David Begnaud) 1612966099
You\u2019re first story about her was fun too.https://twitter.com/davidbegnaud/status/1359504473891209225\u00a0\u2026— Tim Blapple (@Tim Blapple) 1639647857
The racist judge is a crappy person in every every way imaginable.https://twitter.com/davidbegnaud/status/1359504475661156354\u00a0\u2026— On A Bender (@On A Bender) 1639621042
Judge Odinet also banned masks in her courtroom. Demanded those who came before her remove their mask.— Saint (@Saint) 1639501331
Judge Odinet announced her unpaid leave of absence through her attorney, who also mentioned she felt “embarrassed and humiliated and sorry for what she has done.”
Online, people are taking steps to have Odinet’s past cases reviewed.
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