Louisiana judge ousted over campaign ethics violations

NEW ORLEANS -- A judge who forced his employees to work on his reelection campaign and then lied about it was thrown off the bench yesterday by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

In a 7-to-0 decision, the high court removed State District Judge C. Hunter King of Orleans Parish from office and barred him from running for a judicial post for at least five years.

The court said King's campaign misconduct and lying were "so prejudicial to the administration of justice, not only in his section of court, but throughout the judicial system, that he cannot be allowed to remain on the bench."

King initially denied any wrongdoing, but admitted everything after learning that the Louisiana Judiciary Commission, which investigates misconduct complaints, had recordings of his staff meetings. He fired an employee who failed to sell her quota of tickets for a fund-raiser.

Calls to King's home and office went unanswered yesterday.