The Louisiana-based judge made the announcement through her attorney on Wednesday that she would be immediately taking a leave of absence without pay, after multiple calls for her to resign over the video.
Dane Ciolino told News 10 that his client was “embarrassed and humiliated and sorry for what she has done and the harm she has caused to the community.” Odinet will use her leave to think about “what is next,” the lawyer said.
Ciolino said that the Louisiana Supreme Court will move to appoint an interim judge to hear court cases.
Asked by Newsweek whether Odinet intended to return to the bench eventually, Ciolino said: “She has not made any decisions other than to take an unpaid leave of absence from the bench. She will reflect on the future and make longer-term decisions in the weeks to come.”
Odinet’s resignation came soon after a man was reportedly arrested in connection with the burglary at the Lafayette City Court judge’s home in Bendel Gardens over the weekend.
A video of Odinet watching footage of police apprehending and pinning down the man outside their home circulated on social media on Monday.
In the video, one man’s voice says ““And mom’s yelling nr, nr,” to which the judge jokes “We have a n*****. It’s a n*****. Like a roach,” before she laughs.
Odinet, who has four children, confirmed to local news site The Current that the footage was from her home. It is unclear who recorded it and leaked it.
Odinet told The Current that she had been unable to sleep since the attempted burglary, had taken a sedative at the time when the video with the racist slurs was recorded, and therefore didn’t remember what was said.
Since the video emerged, Odinet has received multiple calls to resign as judge, including from the Layfayette City Marshall, the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and a leading civil rights attorney. State Senator Gerald Boudreaux said he would pursue an investigation into the judge’s comments.
Commenting on Odinet’s comments, Anti-Defamation League Southern Division Policy Director Aaron Ahlquist said in a statement to Newsweek: “Judges are supposed to be fair and impartial arbiters of justice for all. The racist comments made by Judge Odinet are indicative of a troubling bias against Black people, which is disqualifying for an objective legal official who decides the fates of peoples’ lives.
“ADL fully supports the call to the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana to further examine Judge Odinet’s conduct and take swift and appropriate action—Louisianans deserve accountability.”
