Suspended Judge Tracie Hunter, indicted on charges she misused county credit cards and backdated court documents, will go on trial September 8, 2014.
Hamilton County Court Judge Norbert Nadel rejected arguments by Hunter's attorney, Clyde Bennett II that charges of forgery, theft in office and tampering with evidence be dropped. Nadel also said no to three separate trials and a change-of-venue. The Judge said if jurors can't be seated in September then the trial may be moved.
Bennett told reporters after Tuesday's hearing that his client "didn't do anything wrong," and he doesn't have to have a defense because "she has not committed a crime." He says he is putting his faith in God, not the system.
Hunter took office in May 2012, 18 months after the November 2010 general election. After the election, Hunter went to federal court after losing to Republican John Williams by 23 votes.
A U.S. District Court judge ordered disputed provisional ballots to be counted and Hunter ended up winning the election. Williams was later appointed to a vacant juvenile court judgeship.
