UPDATED Dec. 31, 3:45 p.m. ET: Lafayette City Judge Michelle Odinet has resigned from her position as a judge, KFLY reports. Her attorney, Dane Ciolino told the outlet that she resigned on Dec. 31.
“I take full responsibility for the hurtful words I used to describe the individual who burglarized the vehicles at my home,” the letter reads. “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.”
UPDATED Dec. 17, 2:03 p.m. ET: The Louisiana Supreme Court has put Lafayette City Judge Michelle Odinet on suspension without pay as the investigation officially opens, according to KLFY. In a order signed on Thursday, the court further states she is “disqualified from exercising judicial functions, without salary, during the pendency of further proceedings in these matter.”
See original story from 12/14/2021 below.
A Louisiana judge is facing widespread criticism after a racist video was circulated online following an attempted burglary at her home over the weekend.
According to local news station KLFY, Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet addressed the video in a statement on Tuesday.
“My children and I were the victim of an armed burglary at our home,” Odinet said. “The police were called and the assailant was arrested. The incident shook me to my core and my mental state was fragile. I was a wreck and am still unable to sleep.”
Odinet continued, “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. I am deeply sorry and ask for your forgiveness and understanding as my family and I deal with the emotional aftermath of this armed burglary.”
Odinet’s statement arrives just days after she landed herself in hot water for her alleged connection to a video containing racist slurs.
In the video, Odinet and her family gathered to watch home security footage of an armed burglary that took place Saturday in their driveway. A voice can be heard saying, “And mom’s yelling n****r n****r,” to which a female voice answered: “We have a n****r, It’s a n****r, like a roach.”
“When the suspect observed the victim arrive, the suspect attempted to flee on foot but was quickly caught by the victim,” police wrote in their report. “Victim held the suspect down until officers arrived. Footage in the security video captures the events, as two people tackle what appears to be the suspect.”
According to KLFY, the suspected burglar is due in court this week on two counts of simple burglary of an automobile.
