Michelle Odinet

Michelle Miller Odinet (born ) is an American lawyer who was elected as a Lafayette, Louisiana City Court Judge in November 2020. Odinet was previously an assistant district attorney in New Orleans and Lafayette and a public defender. She resigned from her judgeship on December 31, 2021, days after a video surfaced of her repeatedly using a racial slur.

Early life Michelle Marie Miller was born in New Orleans, the daughter of Metairie attorney M.O. Miller II and his wife Diane. The extended Miller family have "deep roots" in New Orleans, and in 1989, Odinet was "crowned Queen of the Hermes Ball." From September to December 1996, Odinet was a part-time worker for the indigent defender program. Odinet took a break from her career to homeschool her four children. In 2020, Odinet was elected to a six-year term as Lafayette City Court Judge, Division A.

Use of racial slurs

In December 2021, Odinet took an unpaid leave of absence following the surfacing of a video of her repeatedly using a racist epithet. Odinet issued a statement that she was on a sedative at the time and had no recollection of the event. The Louisiana Supreme Court appointed Vanessa Harris to replace Odinet from December 17, 2021 through February 28, 2022.

In December 2021, the New Orleans district attorney, Jason Williams, ordered a review of all of Odinet's New Orleans cases by the civil rights division in his office.

Personal life In 1996, Odinet was a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana. Odinet has four children, two sets of boy/girl twins.