Oklahoma
Video Shows Oklahoma Judge Using Phone, Checking Facebook During Murder Trial
CHANDLER, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma judicial ethics panel is investigating a new state judge who can be seen on courtroom video scrolling through social media and texting on her cellphone throughout a murder trial, according to a local sheriff’s office.
Security video published by The Oklahoman newspaper shows Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom texting or messaging for minutes at a time during jury selection, opening statements and testimony in the trial for a man charged in the beating death of his girlfriend’s son.
Sgt. Aaron Bennett of the county sheriff’s office declined to provide the video to The Associated Press, saying it is part of an ongoing investigation by the Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints. Taylor Henderson, the council’s director, said its work looking into accusations of misconduct by judges is secret by law and that she could not comment on whether it is investigating. Soderstrom declined to comment to The Oklahoman because the verdict in the murder case could still be appealed, saying judges are prohibited from discussing pending cases. She did not respond to a request for comment from the AP. In the video, Soderstrom, 50, can also be seen checking Facebook during the trial, which began last month in Chandler, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City, according to The Oklahoman. At one point, Soderstrom searched for a GIF, an animated image.
The judge was sworn in on Jan. 9 after being elected in November. Her four-year term expires in January 2027.
The trial ended in a second-degree manslaughter conviction for Khristian Tyler Martzall in the 2018 death of Braxton Danker. Prosecutors had asked jurors to find him guilty of first-degree murder.
Bennett said cameras are placed in courtrooms for security. He said the sheriff’s office did not provide the video to The Oklahoman.
Sheriff Charlie Dougherty told the newspaper that he provided videos from the trial to the council at its request.
District Attorney Adam Panter said he reviewed the video after getting a tip from courthouse personnel. He said he found the judge “spent hours of the trial” texting and scrolling on her cellphone.
“It is both shocking and disappointing,” he told the newspaper. “Jurors are banned from using cellphones in the courtroom during trials because we expect them to give their full time and attention to the evidence being presented. I would expect and hope the court would hold itself to the same standard required of the jurors, regardless of the type of case.”
Panter said he never saw her using the phone. The videos show that Soderstrom held the phone in her lap and below the top of the judge’s bench while using it or set it down in an open drawer.
Defense attorney Velia Lopez said Soderstrom did a great job, and she never saw the judge on the phone. Jari Askins, Oklahoma’s administrative director of the courts, declined to comment on the specifics of the case but said the conduct of judges is governed by the Code of Judicial Conduct, which states: “A judge shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.” The code does not specifically mention the use of mobile phones.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma livestock farmer killed by water buffaloes he purchased just one day before fatal attack
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A Jones, Oklahoma, farmer was attacked and killed by a pair of water buffaloes he acquired at a livestock auction just a day earlier, according to police.
The Jones Police Department said Monday that officers responded to an emergency call just after 10:30 p.m. on Friday, regarding an individual who was attacked by water buffalo at a farm.
When first responders arrived, they were unable to reach the victim, later identified as Bradley McMichael, because of the aggressive behavior of a water buffalo.
In order to allow safe access to McMichael, officials shot and killed one of the water buffalo.
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FILE – A farmer in Oklahoma sustained multiple lacerations to his body from water buffaloes he purchased a day before he was attacked by the animals on July 11, 2025. (Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images)
The officers then gained entry to the scene and discovered that McMichaels had sustained multiple deep lacerations that proved to be fatal.
When investigators were processing the scene, a second water buffalo started to become more and more agitated and began to pose a threat to emergency personnel.
Police said the second animal was killed to ensure everyone on the scene was safe.
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A preliminary investigation determined that the two water buffaloes were responsible for the fatal injuries McMichael sustained.
Investigators also learned McMichael purchased the two water buffaloes at a livestock auction on July 10, just a day before he was killed.
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FILE – An Oklahoma man was attacked by two newly acquired water buffaloes on his farm on July 11, 2025. (Michael Bahlo/picture alliance via Getty Image)
Detectives suspect McMichael became trapped inside the water buffalo enclosure while he was tending to his new animals.
Amy Smith, McMichael’s ex-wife, told television station KFOR his passion was caring for livestock.
“The cattle farming, that’s his thing,” Smith told the station. “He’s been here his whole life, and he’s done that his whole life.
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“So, he’s an experienced cattle handler and a farmer,” she added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
What Scott Harris learned from Theo Epstein to improve Detroit Tigers
The “Days of Roar” podcast talks with ESPN’s Jesse Rogers about what lessons Scott Harris gained from Theo Epstein to mold the Detroit Tigers.
The Detroit Tigers selected Malachi Witherspoon, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Oklahoma on Sunday, July 13, in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft, with the No. 62 overall pick.
Witherspoon had a difficult path to the MLB draft. Raised by a single mother, Meg, with two other siblings, he and his twin brother, Kyson, have forged a path in baseball after playing hockey and gymnastics. Kyson was drafted No. 15 overall by the Boston Red Sox.
Malachi was the more touted prospect as the brothers began college at Oklahoma, and even received an over-slot offer following the 2022 draft, in which he was a 12th-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks. But with the Sooners, Kyson, undrafted in 2022, moved up the draft boards.
The 6-foot-3, 211-pound Malachi Witherspoon features a fastball peaking at 99 mph. But he struggled with control in the zone, according to scouts. His fastball in particular was well-hit at Oklahoma, suggesting he may need to remake its shape entirely to succeed in the big leagues. When he throws pitches such as his curveball with depth, he tends to have more success.
Witherspoon was the No. 121 prospect in this year’s draft, according to MLB Pipeline. The 20-year-old is the third second-round pick selected by Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris. In 2023, Harris selected second baseman Max Anderson at No. 45 overall from Nebraska. In 2024, he selected pitcher Owen Hall at No. 49 overall from Edmond North High School in Oklahoma.
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The Tigers earlier Sunday picked Jordan Yost, a shortstop from Sickles High School, Florida, with the No. 24 overall pick in the first round. The Tigers selected another high schooler in power-hitting catcher Michael Oliveto, with their second pick at No. 34 overall in the Competitive Balance Round A. They wrapped up Day 1 of the draft by selecting Arizona State left-hander Ben Jacobs in the third round, at No. 98 overall.
The No. 62 pick comes with a recommended bonus slot value of $1,451,200, though teams can exceed that to sign picks as long as they do not exceed their total bonus pool. If the Tigers sign the No. 62 pick for less than slot, those savings can be applied to other picks in the draft. The Tigers have $10,990,800 to spend on their 21 draft picks this year, the 17th-most in baseball. Teams are allowed to exceed the allotment for picks by 5% before paying a 75% fine on the overage. No MLB team has exceeded the 5% limit since the slots were created.
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Day 1 of the draft features the first three rounds, with Day 2 on Monday, July 14, featuring Rounds 4-20, beginning at 11:30 a.m. on MLB.com. The Tigers have 21 picks in total.
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