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.”
Hellbound and Down 