A Yavapai County Superior Court judge has abruptly left the bench after body-camera footage surfaced showing her allegedly urinating in public near the courthouse, a scandal that would shame any decent public servant. The footage and reporting make clear that this was not a private mistake but a public spectacle that citizens witnessed and police documented on patrol recorders.
According to police reports and local coverage, the encounter unfolded shortly after 1:30 a.m. on October 4 on Prescott’s Whiskey Row, when officers say the judge was found disheveled behind a bush and appeared to be intoxicated while claiming she was “waiting for an Uber.” The video reportedly shows slurred speech and confusion as the officer tried to identify her, undercutting any notion that this was merely a misunderstanding.
Matters worsened when the judge’s husband intervened at the scene, allegedly refusing police orders and ultimately being detained on charges that included resisting arrest and obstruction of an investigation. Witnesses and officers at the scene described a chaotic confrontation while the body-worn cameras continued to record, underscoring the seriousness of the disruption outside a block that houses the very courthouse she served.
Two days after the incident, Judge Kristyne Schaaf-Olson formally submitted her resignation, citing personal, physical, medical, and family circumstances in a statement to Presiding Judge John Napper. The official Yavapai County news release confirmed the October 6 resignation and thanked her for her service while moving to fill the vacancy in accordance with court procedures.
Local officials have announced the process to fill the suddenly vacant pro tempore seat, which under Arizona rules will involve appointment by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court and local approval steps—an important reminder that judicial vacancies do not get handled with secrecy. The public deserves transparency about who will replace a judge who resigned under this cloud, and county notices have already opened the application process for the position.
This episode should prompt sober reflection about standards and accountability in our courts. Americans who obey the law and show up to work on time expect judges to model integrity, not to become late-night headlines for indecency; taxpayers and litigants deserve a judiciary beyond reproach. If there are any lingering questions about the conduct of those involved, officials must pursue a full and transparent review so that respect for the rule of law is restored and maintained.
