Juvenile judge Tracie Hunter began her six months jail sentence Monday for illegally helping her brother keep his government job in Hamilton County, Ohio. The packed courtroom erupted into chaos after Judge Patrick Dinkelacker executed Hunter’s sentence, which she was given in 2014, but had been delayed while Hunter appealed the conviction.
Hunter’s case was highly disputed in Cincinnati. The city’s Mayor John Cranley wrote a letter to Judge Dinkelacker asking him not to place Hunter in prison, claiming she suffered enough from her conviction and does not pose a public threat. During the case Kinkelacker read numerous postcards sent to his house asking him to exonerate Hunter.
Hunter has maintained her innocence throughout the trial, despite a jury’s ruling that she mishandled a confidential document to help her brother keep his job.
Hunter’s lawyer said they plan to file a motion to dismiss the case against the former juvenile judge.
Cyber Gazing 