An Alabama probate judge has been suspended following a massive 120-page complaint that accuses her of serious judicial misconduct, including delaying critical hearings for mental health patients so she could walk her dogs, making racist remarks about a white court employee, and ignoring a staff member’s plea to be near her dying sister with cancer.

Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba G. Blanchard was suspended on May 21, the same day the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission filed formal charges against her with the Court of the Judiciary.

The complaint details a pattern of abuse of power, docket mismanagement, bias, intimidation, and retaliation that harmed patients, families, and court staff.

One of the allegations involves Blanchard’s handling of involuntary commitment and guardianship cases. The complaint claims she routinely delayed or canceled probable cause hearings, creating a massive backlog.

In one case, hospital staff repeatedly contacted her office begging for a hearing so a patient could be discharged and go home for Thanksgiving with family.

Blanchard allegedly canceled the hearing, forcing the patient to remain hospitalized for an additional two weeks.

An email from hospital staff read, “This patient will now remain hospitalized for an additional two weeks solely due to the lack of timely access to the hearing process. This not only prevents her from being home with her family for Thanksgiving, but it also generates unnecessary hospitalization costs and creates avoidable emotional distress for the patient.”

The complaint states that Blanchard’s failure to promptly handle court business created a disservice to Jefferson County citizens, forcing some to seek services elsewhere.

The complaint also accuses Blanchard of making a racist comment about white chief clerk Amanda Reid.

A staffer was reportedly asked by the judge if they liked Reid.

When the staffer said yes, Blanchard allegedly replied, “Oh, I forgot you all like kissing white ass.”

NEW: Alabama judge suspended after being accused of delaying cases so she could walk her dogs, as well as making racial remarks against a white woman.

Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard has been smacked with a 120-page complaint accusing her of misconduct in multiple cases.

In one… pic.twitter.com/Nt5QDLD6Wp

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 26, 2026

Blanchard is accused of harassing, intimidating, and retaliating against staff.

In one situation, after Reid complied with a subpoena from the Judicial Inquiry Commission, the judge allegedly moved Reid’s desk to a cubicle in front of her bailiff as punishment.

Another allegation involves a clerk who requested reassignment to Birmingham because the long commute prevented her from seeing her sister, who was dying of cancer.

Blanchard allegedly never responded.

The clerk’s sister died shortly afterward.

Court staff reportedly heard Blanchard declare she was the “ultimate authority” in the probate court with “no boss.”

The complaint charges her with a pattern of bias against attorneys, improperly removing more than 140 cases from two appointed attorneys handling conservatorship cases.

The Judicial Inquiry Commission has seven specific charges against Blanchard for violating the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics.

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These include patterns of failing to diligently discharge duties, failing to follow the law, exhibiting bias against lawyers, failing to disqualify herself in cases in which she previously served as an attorney, harassing and retaliating against staff, allowing others under her control to harass staff, and failing to maintain judicial competence.

Blanchard, who was elected in November 2024 for her first term, has denied all accusations through her lawyers.

In a recent filing, her attorneys submitted a general denial of the seven charges.

The case remains pending before the Court of the Judiciary.

Retired Judge Sherri Friday has been appointed to handle her cases in the meantime.

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