Jefferson County Presiding Probate Court Judge Yashiba Glenn Blanchard was suspended Thursday, and retired Judge Sherri Friday has been appointed to fill in as a special probate judge for the county.

No information was released about the reason for the suspension or how long it will last.

“This temporary assignment is necessary for the orderly administration of justice,” a court filing issued by Presiding Circuit Court Judge Elisabeth A. French reads. The appointment confers on Friday all powers, authority and jurisdiction of the judgeship to which she is appointed.

The Judicial Inquiry Commission sent a 120-page complaint to the Court of the Judiciary in which it makes a series of allegations. It alleges Blanchard was slow to hold probable cause hearings in commitment cases and other matters that slowed the court’s docket. It also alleges she abused her position by showing bias and intimidating against certain attorneys in her court.

“In essence, Judge Blanchard’s failure to promptly dispose of the business of this court has created a disservice to the citizens of Jefferson County as citizens are unable to receive the services that only the Probate Court can provide and are seeking court services elsewhere,” the complaint states.

Friday retired in December 2024 from the probate court seat she had held since 2006.

Blanchard was elected to the court in November 2024.