The 120-page complaint filed by the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission against suspended Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard was recently released and posted on the Alabama Court of the Judiciary website, detailing seven charges of misconduct.
The complaint alleges that Judge Blanchard’s actions have degraded public confidence in the judiciary, harmed litigants and other individuals involved in court proceedings, and created a backlog of cases.
Among the charges are a pattern and practice of failing to diligently discharge judicial duties, failing to follow the law, and exhibiting bias against attorneys. Additionally, Blanchard is accused of failing to disqualify herself from cases where she previously served as an attorney, and of harassment, intimidation, and retaliation against probate court staff. The complaint also states that she allowed other court officials under her control to engage in similar harassing behavior and failed to maintain professional competence in judicial administration.
The report highlights instances where Judge Blanchard was reportedly late to hearings, including one occasion where she cited walking her dogs as the reason for her tardiness to an involuntary commitment docket. This delay had significant consequences, as evidenced by an email from hospital staff detailing how the cancellation and rescheduling of a patient’s hearing resulted in an additional two weeks of hospitalization.
The email further explained that this delay prevented the patient from being home for Thanksgiving, incurred unnecessary hospitalization costs, and caused emotional distress to the patient and their loved ones. The cancellation of dockets was also noted to disrupt hospital operations, delay care for other patients, and pose a threat to public safety.
In another case mentioned, an individual was held for 18 days before a hearing, despite state law requiring probable cause hearings within seven days of any imposed liberty limitation or temporary treatment. The complaint also addresses human resources issues, including accusations that court staff transferred to the Bessemer location faced retaliation and were given little to no work commensurate with their skills.
One particularly poignant account describes a clerk who requested a transfer back to the Birmingham Division to visit her sister, who was dying of cancer. The clerk found the commute to Bessemer difficult, and despite expressing her situation to a judge, Judge Blanchard reportedly never responded to her email. Tragically, the clerk was unable to reach the hospital in time to say goodbye to her sister due to traffic while commuting from Bessemer.
The full report further details how Blanchard’s conduct impacted hundreds of conservatorship and guardianship cases.
Judge Blanchard was suspended from the bench late last month, and retired Judge Sherri Friday was sworn in to replace her.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
