First Black Judge Appointed to Lafayette City Court in Place of White Judge Who Used Racial Slur

Louisiana Supreme Court named Judge Vanessa Harris as the replacement of the suspended Lafayette City judge who was caught on tape uttering a racial slur.

According to local station KFLY-TV, Harris, a retired assistant district attorney from St. Landry Parish, will be the first Black Lafayette municipal judge. While Judge Michelle Odinet is being investigated, Harris will fill in as needed.

In a decision issued Dec. 17, the Louisiana Supreme Court temporarily removed Judge Odinet from the bench, stating that she is “disqualified from exercising judicial functions, without salary, during the pendency of further proceedings in these matters.”

Initially, Odinet claimed she had no recollection of the episode that led to her demise, but she later acknowledged her role and apologized, according to CBS.

In the video, Odinet’s voice and others could be heard laughing and using the N-word in the background of a video of an apparent attempted robbery at her residence by a Black male.

“That’s me,” one viewer says while watching the security footage of the man being caught. “And Mom’s yelling ‘n—, n—.'” Another viewer says, “We have a n—–. It’s a n—–, like a roach.”

Earlier last week, Odinet claimed she was given a sedative during the time of the video and had no recollection. However, her attorney Dane Ciolino confirmed on Wednesday that Odinet was indeed one of the voices on the video.

If Odinet is permanently removed from office, Harris will serve as her replacement until she either returns to the bench or an election is called to replace her.