Helpless people sat in hospital beds for weeks while their judge walked her dogs, state says

Alabama suspended Judge Yashiba Blanchard after a 120-page complaint accused her of bullying staff, delaying cases, and targeting local lawyers.

When we face a crisis, we trust our local courts to act fast and keep us safe. But in one Alabama county, people lost their freedom while their judge put her own routine first.

WHAT HAPPENED

Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard is suspended from her job. A state group filed a 120-page complaint against her. The complaint says she was often late to court, bullied her staff, and made racist remarks to a white woman.

The complaint claims her delays kept people stuck in hospitals for weeks on end. In one case, a person was left crying and upset in bed while waiting for the judge to act. When asked about her delays, the judge said she had three dogs to walk.

The state also claims Blanchard abused her power by targeting local lawyers. She ordered reviews of 132 cases they managed. When the lawyers complained, she put their photos at security desks.

The lawyers fled the city in fear of arrest.

WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS

A 120-page state complaint lists many rules the judge broke.

• Blanchard ordered deep reviews on 132 court cases after she took office in late 2024.
• People in mental health crises stayed in hospitals for extra weeks due to late court orders.
• Photos of lawyers from a local firm were posted at security desks, forcing them to flee.
• The judge oversaw a public fund worth millions of dollars paid by citizens.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

How does a system allow one person to hold so much power over our freedom? Probate courts run quiet systems that handle private assets, mental health cases, and large sums of cash. When checks and balances fail, regular citizens pay the price with their time and peace of mind.

THE OTHER SIDE

Judge Blanchard declined to comment on the charges. She said her lawyer or publicist would speak on her behalf later.

Right now, we have not heard her defense, but the state has put forward a massive stack of evidence and witness complaints.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

The state has suspended Blanchard from her duties. A retired judge, Sherri Coleman, is now running the court so cases do not pile up. The Alabama Supreme Court is also looking at a lawsuit filed by the lawyers who say Blanchard overstepped her bounds.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

1. Why did the judge order deep reviews on 132 specific cases?
2. What defense will the judge's legal team present to the state group?
3. How many people were kept in hospitals longer than necessary due to court delays?