Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Judge reassigned due to residency investigation
August 25, 2011
KANSAS CITY, Missouri: According to the Presiding Judge of the Missouri 16th Judicial Circuit Court, all cases pending in Judge Elena Franco's Division 208 have been reassigned until an investigation into a residency violation has been completed.[1]
Presiding Municipal Judge Katherine Emke released a statement saying, “The judges of the 16th Circuit Court of Missouri, Municipal Division, are aware of, and adhere to, the residency requirements outlined in the city charter. We have been made aware of an allegation that these provisions have been violated by a member of the bench.”[1]
City officials have opened a personnel case against Municipal Judge Elena Franco and City spokesman Dennis Gagon has said that this is a personnel matter.[1]
Attorney Coulter DeVries made a statement in Franco's defense saying, “I think that the city has exceeded its authority, I don’t think Judge Franco has done anything wrong. She’s a great asset to the court, and I believe that any change in judges has to come from the presiding judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit.”[1]
Franco was retained to another four-year term by voters in the March 22 city election.[1]
Footnotes
| |||||
