Louisville judge accused of campaigning from bench

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Louisville judge is accused of campaigning from the bench.

The Courier-Journal reports (http://cjky.it/ZhC7Za) Jefferson District Judge Gina Kay Calvert summoned defense lawyers who support her to the bench during open court. She then showed them a handwritten note that said, "The FOP did not endorse me!!"

Calvert the asked the attorneys, "Can you believe that?" The March 27 conversation was recorded on the courtroom video.

The exchange came to light because Calvert filed a complaint with the sheriff’s office accusing a courtroom deputy of showing the note prosecutors. They included Calvert’s opponent.

The deputy’s attorney says his client felt he had a duty to report an action he thought was improper.

Calvert told the newspaper in an interview that, in retrospect, she shouldn’t have discussed her campaign in court.

___

Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com

©2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.