by Apryl Marie Fogel
A scathing 120-page complaint outlines seven charges against Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard.
"Judge Blanchard's conduct has degraded the public's confidence in the integrity of the judiciary and brought the judicial office into disrepute. Judge Blanchard's delay and lack of attention in handling her cases have harmed the litigants, protected persons, respondents, family members, attorneys, healthcare professionals, healthcare services, and others who have business before the Probate Court," the report explains.
The meticulously detailed complaint alleges that Blanchard's behavior made life miserable for court staff, created a "threat to public safety," kept individuals hospitalized longer than necessary and created a logjam of cases.
The charges against Blanchard include:
- Pattern and practice of failing to diligently discharge judicial duties
- Pattern and practice of failing to follow the law
- Pattern and practice of exhibiting bias against attorneys appearing in Judge Blanchard's court
- Failure to disqualify from a case in which Judge Blanchard served as an attorney
- Harassment, intimidation, and retaliation against probate court staff
- Allowing other court officials subject to Judge Blanchard's direction and control to engage in harassment and intimidation of probate court staff
- Failure to maintain professional competence in judicial administration
The report repeatedly states that Blanchard was late to hearings on her schedule.
"Judge Blanchard told her staff on one occasion that she was late to her involuntary commitment docket because she had three dogs to walk," the complaint says.
Included in the report is one of three emails from hospital staff to the court regarding the consequences of the judge's delay of the case:
“With the cancellation and the rescheduling of her hearing to December 2, 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 and her loved ones.
Beyond this single case, the cancellation of the docket disrupts unit flow, delays care for other patients needing admission which can pose a threat to public safety and places our staff in untenable operational positions. It is difficult to reconcile today's action with our shared responsibility to ensure patients receive timely due process and appropriate, least-restrictive care.
The sequence of events today reflects a disregard for the rights of our patients, the time and safety of their families, and the operational efficiency of the hospital.”
Following repeated emails advocating for the patient, Blanchard set a new hearing on November 20 and released the patient.
In another case, an individual was held for 18 days before having a hearing. State law says:
“When any respondent sought to be committed has any limitation imposed upon his liberty or any temporary treatment imposed upon him by the probate judge pending final hearings on such petition, the probate judge, at the time such limitation or treatment is imposed, shall set a probable cause hearing within seven days of the date of such imposition.”
Among the human resources complaints are accusations that the court's chief clerk and several other employees who were transferred from the Birmingham Probate Court building in downtown Birmingham to the Bessemer location, at times with little to no work or duties commensurate with their skill and pay level, were subjected to acts of retaliation or for no reason at all.
While each of those moved has their stories shared in the report, one shows a level of indifference that would shock even the hardest hearts.
“Another clerk sent an email to Judge Blanchard and to the Place 2 Judge on August 28, 2025, asking if she could be moved back to the Birmingham Division because her sister was dying of cancer. The clerk liked to visit her sister in the evenings after work and assist with her daily needs, and the commute to Bessemer-which was 35-40 minutes longer through heavy traffic-made visiting her sister more difficult. The Place 2 Judge expressed to the employee in person that there was nothing she could do because Judge Blanchard was the·Presiding Judge of the Probate Court. Judge Blanchard never responded to the email at all. Shortly thereafter, the clerk's sister died. The clerk was unable to make it to the hospital in time to say goodbye because she was stuck in traffic driving to the hospital from Bessemer.”
The full report details how Blanchard's actions affected hundreds of conservatorship and guardianship cases, as well as a detailed account of bar complaint filings and other conduct that led to charges.
On Thursday, Blanchard was suspended from the bench, and retired Judge Sherri Friday was sworn in.
Full Article & Source:
Horrifying details released in case against suspended Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard
See Also:
Suspended Jefferson County probate judge accused of election interference in new lawsuit
Jefferson County judge suspended, complaint says she called herself “ultimate authority”
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