Judge’s Public Intoxication Incident Leads to Resignation

In a shocking turn of events that has rocked the judicial community in Yavapai County, Arizona, Judge Pro Tempore Kristyne Schaaf-Olson found herself at the center of a public scandal that ultimately ended her career on the bench. The 42-year-old judge was involved in an embarrassing incident in the early morning hours of October 4 in Prescott, when police responded to reports of public urination. Body camera footage captured the aftermath, showing Schaaf-Olson in a clearly intoxicated state, struggling to compose herself as officers arrived at approximately 1:30 AM. Multiple witnesses had reported seeing the judge urinating in public, a violation that would prove devastating to her professional standing. The responding officer’s immediate reaction—”This is disgusting” and “This is unacceptable”—set the tone for what would become a career-ending encounter. Perhaps most concerning was that despite her impaired condition, Schaaf-Olson was apparently coherent enough to inform officers of her position as a judge, though police reports indicate she was too intoxicated to spell her own name correctly when questioned.

What might have remained a regrettable but manageable incident quickly escalated when Schaaf-Olson’s husband, Jason Olson, arrived on the scene. As the parks and recreation manager for the Town of Chino Valley, Jason Olson holds his own position of public trust, making his subsequent actions all the more problematic. Body camera footage shows him repeatedly attempting to remove his wife from police questioning, despite clear and increasingly stern warnings from officers to step back. When an officer explained they were questioning her because “I just saw her puking and urinating, exposing herself to several people,” Jason denied this was his wife, directly contradicting what officers had witnessed. His persistent interference eventually reached a breaking point when, after multiple warnings, an officer forcefully restrained him, saying, “I’m going to f—king throw you on the ground if you resist,” before doing exactly that. As Jason was placed in a police cruiser, the officer reminded him of a fundamental principle: “When an officer is giving you an order, you need to comply and not interfere with the investigation.” This intervention by her husband only complicated an already difficult situation for Schaaf-Olson.

The gravity of the situation became even clearer as additional officers arrived at the scene. The initial responding officer described the judge’s condition and actions in stark terms to his colleagues: “She has her pants completely down. I’m watching her right there, she’s peeing everywhere. A bunch of people see, I see.” He further characterized her state as “useless,” noting that “she can’t even spell her name.” These observations, captured on police body cameras, paint a picture of a public official in a profoundly compromised state, engaging in behavior fundamentally incompatible with the dignity and respect expected of someone in a judicial position. The evidence was sufficient for officers to issue Schaaf-Olson a citation for urinating or defecating in public, a minor offense that would nevertheless have major implications for her career. The issuance of this citation set in motion a series of events that would lead to significant professional consequences for both Schaaf-Olson and her husband.

The professional fallout was swift and decisive. Just two days after the incident, Schaaf-Olson resigned from her position as Judge Pro Tempore in the Yavapai County Superior Court. In her resignation statement, she carefully avoided direct reference to the incident, instead citing “current physical, medical, and family circumstances” as the basis for her decision. “The Yavapai community deserves and has judges who are steadfast in their commitment to serving Yavapai County,” she acknowledged, adding that “considering current events in my life, I believe it would be difficult to honor this commitment.” This carefully worded statement represents the typical approach of public figures attempting to maintain some dignity while exiting under a cloud of controversy. Despite the measured language, the timing made the actual reason for her departure unmistakable. Presiding Judge John Napper offered a diplomatic response, saying he respected and appreciated Schaaf-Olson’s decision to step down, avoiding any comment on the circumstances that necessitated it.

Beyond her resignation, Schaaf-Olson took the additional step of self-reporting to the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct, which has initiated an investigation into the matter. This self-reporting may have been an attempt to demonstrate accountability and perhaps mitigate potential professional consequences beyond her immediate resignation. The incident marked a particularly abrupt end to what had been a relatively brief judicial career—Schaaf-Olson had only been appointed to her role in October 2023, meaning her tenure lasted almost exactly one year. Her final day on the bench was scheduled for the Friday following the incident, bringing a sudden conclusion to what might otherwise have been a promising judicial career. The process of replacing her is now underway, with her successor needing to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court and subsequently approved by county leaders, according to local media reports.

The consequences of that night extend beyond Schaaf-Olson to her husband, whose intervention resulted in his own legal troubles. Jason Olson was cited for multiple offenses: resisting arrest, interfering with a crime scene investigation, and obstruction of government operations. These charges are not trivial matters, especially for someone who, like his wife, holds a position of public trust as a town official. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 18 to face these charges, extending the timeline of this unfortunate episode well beyond his wife’s resignation. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the higher standards to which public officials are held, and the swift consequences that can follow when those standards are breached. What began as an evening out ended with the termination of a judicial career, pending criminal charges, and public embarrassment—a cautionary tale about the intersection of personal behavior, professional responsibility, and the public trust placed in those who serve in official capacities.