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Published: 2012-03-13 16:05:00
Updated: 2012-03-13 16:49:20

Ousted Durham DA seeking judge's email


Durham District Attorney Tracey Cline in court
Durham District Attorney Tracey Cline in court
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Two weeks after she was forced from office for repeatedly criticizing him, former Durham County District Attorney Tracey Cline is again at odds with Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson.

On Tuesday, Cline asked for a mediator to resolve a dispute with Hudson over his email.

Cline said in her request that she asked Hudson last year for copies of his emails and received only a portion of them. Hudson told her at the time that releasing other messages could compromise criminal cases, according to the court filing.

Cline said that most of the cases involved are no longer pending, and one defense attorney has spoken publicly about a case and given information to the media, waiving any privilege.

The defense attorney isn't named in the court filing, but Cline claimed in a recent four-day judicial inquiry into her conduct that Hudson often showed favoritism to attorney Lisa Williams at the expense of prosecutors.

Cline said she reiterated her request to Hudson last week for his email but got no response. Under state law, a mediator can be appointed to resolve the dispute.

Cline alleged in several previous court filings that Hudson is biased against her and her office, and she asked to have him barred from handling criminal cases in Durham County. Two other judges found her complaints to be groundless.

Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood ordered on March 2 that Cline be removed from office, saying that he found enough evidence in the judicial inquiry that she had brought the "entire Durham County justice system into disrepute" by her repeated attacks on Hudson.

Cline is appealing the ruling.

Retired Superior Court Judge Leon Stanback is serving as interim  district attorney.


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GIVE IT A REST Ms. Cline. I am tired of you 3 year old style tempertantrums.

I'm sorry but if she had anything except her attitude this would have been over long ago. To me she seems like a woman scorned who can't use the two things she's accustomed to using to get everyone to bend over backwards for her - her race and her gender. Her accusations are goundless, they have no merit, and at this point she is just wasting tax dollars and YES SHE IS DESTROYING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM with the elementary school styled temper tantrum she is throwing. She needs to grow up, move on, and quit wasting our time and tax dollars.

+++++Destroying the justice system in Durham and bringing it into total disrepute is an accomplishment? This is a strange, new definition. westernwake1

So you really think that one person has "destroyed the justice system? REALLY?????????????????????????? this statement is AMAZING.....perhaps someone just opened up and shared a picture of what has been going on all along...and brought it to the public's attention which is probably exactly where it needs to be....CORRUPTION AND COVER UP does NOT BELONG in the NC JUDICIAL SYSTEM....period..

"you just be jealous of her and all she has accomplished." - Greg and Uni

Destroying the justice system in Durham and bringing it into total disrepute is an accomplishment? This is a strange, new definition.

Amby you just be jealous of her and all she has accomplished. Perhaps if you had less hate and more heart you would not be so unhappy in life.

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