Probate Judge Yashiba G. Blanchard suspended in May wrt a pattern of abuse of power, docket mismanagement, bias, intimidation, and retaliation that harmed patients, families, and court staff.
Posted on 06/17/2026 12:15:33 PM PDT by Red Badger
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.”
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.
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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You can’t expect Yashiba to conform to white standards of behavior. That’s colonialism.
Aint nobody got time fo dat
Ya SHEEBA has an “Imperial Margarine” complex.
Come down, off your high horse, your Honor!
You’re making a mess.
No wonder probate takes so long.
This DEI apointee is doing exactly what she was appointed to do.
They didn’t introduce “Reid” in this article.
Probate Judge Yashiba G. Blanchard suspended in May wrt a pattern of abuse of power, docket mismanagement, bias, intimidation, and retaliation that harmed patients, families, and court staff.
Am I right?
Elected.
As a probate lawyer, I’ve never had a probate court judge unreasonably delay any action. No excuse for this conduct.
Oops. Doing what she was elected to do.
She has a ‘Superiority Complex’ Which is common among blacks and especially black women and even more especially among black women with a position or title that gives them power over others regardless of color...............
Yeah. I’m over eternally angry negroes.
Oh, Yashiba, how could you!
And these are just the ones getting caught. How many White people were unjustly judged by her?
This goof is a prime example but judges in general have way too much power. Serious limits and controls need to be put on these black-robed tyrants
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