Ethics
Judge suspended by judicial inquiry commission for incompetent, unprofessional behavior
Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard in Jefferson County, Alabama, was removed from the courtroom following misconduct charges. (Photo from the Probate Court of Jefferson County, Alabama)
An Alabama judge who described herself as the “ultimate authority” has been suspended following complaints that she was incompetent, unprofessional and failed to diligently discharge her judicial duties.
Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard in Jefferson County, Alabama, was removed from the courtroom indefinitely and was accused of ethical and judicial misconduct following a 120-page complaint filed by the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission, according to WBRC.
The complaint includes dozens of allegations against Blanchard claiming that she ran the probate court in an incompetent and unprofessional manner, routinely targeted attorneys and staff, and manufactured a backlog that created havoc in involuntary commitments, according to WBRC.
The commission also charged that Blanchard had a pattern of failing to follow the law by exhibiting bias against attorneys in her court; failure to disqualify from a case in which Blanchard was an attorney; and harassment, intimidation and retaliation against probate court staff.
Judge Elisabeth French, the presiding judge in Jefferson County, appointed a retired probate judge last week to serve temporarily in Blanchard’s place.
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