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Jury set; and opening arguments to come Wednesday in Tracie Hunter trial

A jury of 11 women and one man will hear the criminal case of Hamilton County Juvenile Court judge Tracie Hunter.

The jury was seated at today, after a day and a half of questioning of the jury pool by Hunter's attorney and the special prosecutors trying the case. Opening arguments by defense lawyer Clyde Bennett and special prosecutors R. Scott Croswell and Merlyn Shiverdecker will be heard Wednesday.

Six alternate jurors were also seated this afternoon (Tuesday). Common pleas court judge Norbert Nadel has told jurors the trial could last four to six weeks.

Hunter is facing trial on nine criminal counts, including tampering with evidence, forgery and theft in office. She's also accused of misusing county credit cards and back-dating court documents.

Hunter, a Democrat, took office in May 2012, after an 18-month legal battle following the 2010 general election. After the election, Hunt went to federal court after losing by a handful of votes to Republican John Williams. A U.S. District Court judge ruled that disputed provisional ballots should be counted; and Hunter was declared the winner. Williams has since been appointed to a vacant juvenile court judgeship.

Howard Wilkinson is in his 50th year of covering politics on the local, state and national levels.