Louisiana Judge Michelle Odinet has been suspended by the state's Supreme Court after a sickening video of her using the n-word went viral earlier this week. Docs filed Friday read, "hereby is disqualified from exercising judicial functions, without salary, during the pendency of further proceedings in these matters." This means the LA Supreme Court has officially opened an investigation against the disgraced judge ... with the possibility of more action to be taken in the future. People across the country have called for Odinet's resignation after a video, being played on a home TV screen, shows surveillance footage of a fleeing suspect apprehended by a homeowner after allegedly breaking into a car on the property. While you can't see any faces, a male voice can be heard saying, "And Mom's yelling n****r, n****r," followed by a female voice, alleged to be Judge Odinet, laughing and saying, "We have a n****r. It's a n****r, like a roach." A lawyer for Judge Odinet spoke to the Acadiana Advocate about the incident earlier this week, saying she felt, "humiliated, embarrassed, and sorry for what she has done and the harm she has caused to the community."
Its a family thing After a recording surfaced from a Lafayette judge's home that captured her and others using a racial slur, one of her children has been removed from the LSU track team's roster. The video has prompted widespread condemnation for Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet, whose attorney has confirmed that it was her voice recorded using a racial slur and likening a Black burglar to a roach. But Odinet's voice is not alone in the video, and the other voice in the video also can be heard using the same racial slur and refers to his mom shouting the N-word multiple times, while she repeats it. Odinet later references "Eli," one of her sons. Other voices can be heard laughing in the background. Elijah Odinet has been removed from the LSU track roster, an LSU Athletic Department spokesperson confirmed. Two more of Odinet's children, Kenny and Caroline Odinet, remain on the LSU track roster posted online. Members of the team told The Advocate | The Times-Picayune that coaches had offered to meet with some of the team earlier this week if they had concerns about the video, but that they had not called a mandatory teamwide meeting about the incident. Athletes like sprinters and jumpers were invited to the meeting this week, but other track athletes said they had not heard from their coaches about the video or the meeting. LSU Track also released a statement on social media Wednesday. "LSU track and field is a diverse group of student-athletes, coaches and support staff, and we respect these differences because they make us stronger," the statement said. "We will never tolerate racism, and we will continue to do our part in the ongoing work toward its eradication — through educating ourselves, engaging with our community, and honoring the distinctions that empower us." Odinet previously told The Acadiana Advocate that she had no recollection of the video being recorded, but that she'd taken a sedative beforehand. She also said her son needed treatment for substance abuse. “The situation highlighted and confirmed a suspected substance abuse issue our son is having,” she said. “We are taking the necessary steps to get our son the help and treatment he needs.” Odinet's lawyer, Dane Ciolino told The Acadiana Advocate on Wednesday the judge is taking a period of leave without pay. He said she will weigh her options going forward. Gov. John Bel Edwards joined the chorus of people Thursday who have called on Odinet to resign from the bench. "Quite frankly, there is no place for that kind of language, especially among members of the judiciary who have the most important role in the administration of the justice in our state," the governor said during his final press conference of the year. Edwards said that the problem is also practical if she does not resign, as "perhaps all of the litigants who are African-Americans will seek for recusal, and I don't think she has a valid basis to deny that recusal."
Thats not fair. A lot of it is willful ignorance and “when they came for the… I said nothing because it wasn’t me” mentality.
I have spent a fair amount of time in Louisiana and the N word one would hear often several time in a week from all corners.
in fairness i've used it on occasion when mimicking/mocking a redneck among ppl of trust. I'll have to watch the video & circumstances of how it was recorded.
Q: Why would anyone record this and put it on the Internet? A: To soil more division and cause more hatred in the World. Q: Who would do that? A: The Democrats.