Jefferson County Probate Judge suspended, accused of misconduct and abuse

Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard has been officially suspended from her duties. The action was taken late Thursday by the state Judicial Inquiry Commission following a sprawling 120-page complaint that details a laundry list of alleged professional and judicial misconduct.

Serious Allegations

The complaint against the first-term judge, who was elected in November 2024, paints a troubling picture of her tenure. Allegations include blatant bias against attorneys, a consistent failure to discharge core judicial duties, and a pattern of harassment and retaliation directed at her own court staff. Under the Alabama Constitution, the Judicial Inquiry Commission’s filing triggers an automatic, temporary suspension.

According to the document, Blanchard’s conduct often disrupted the court's operations. In one instance, she was reportedly late for scheduled hearings, claiming it was because she had to walk her three dogs. Her delays in processing involuntary commitment orders had significant human consequences, leaving individuals in hospitals far longer than necessary. One report describes a respondent waiting in bed, crying and upset, while awaiting the judge's action.

The presiding circuit judge reportedly confronted Blanchard regarding her mishandling of these proceedings, warning her, “You don’t do a trophy for doing good. We are not queens and kings. People are not going to bow down to you.”

Legal Battles and Administrative Overreach

Blanchard’s issues extend well beyond courtroom behavior. She is currently embroiled in a lawsuit filed in February by attorneys from the Birmingham firm Hand Arendall, which is now before the Alabama Supreme Court. The firm contends that Blanchard exceeded her authority by ordering forensic audits on over 130 conservator cases she had reassigned to a different firm without providing legal justification or due process.

Tensions escalated to the point where Blanchard reportedly filed a police report claiming she felt "threatened" by attorneys involved in the dispute. Following this, photos of those lawyers were posted at Jefferson County Courthouse security checkpoints. Attorneys Christopher S. Hamer and W. Alan Duke Jr. noted that the lawyers involved were so concerned about potential arrest that they fled Birmingham and sought criminal defense counsel. The firm argues that no statute permits a probate judge to unilaterally approve open-ended fees from protected estates without a petition or a showing of necessity.

A Change in Leadership

In response to the suspension, Presiding Circuit Judge Elisabeth French acted quickly, appointing retired probate judge Sherri Coleman as the Special Probate Judge to manage the court's operations. When reached for comment by 205focus.com on Thursday night, Blanchard declined to speak, indicating that her attorney or publicist would reach out later.

The Probate Court manages private estates and trusts worth millions, and the judge oversees the Judge of Probate Fund Account, which was established in 2012. Blanchard is known to many in the community as the stepmother of Aniah Blanchard, the Homewood teenager whose tragic murder led to the passage of “Aniah’s Law.”