Law license reinstated to judge removed from bench and disbarred for forcing employees to do campaign work

NEW ORLEANS – A former New Orleans judge has had his license reinstated after being removed from the bench, convicted of a felony and later disbarred for forcing employees to do campaign work for him.

C. Hunter King was elected to the Orleans Parish Civil District Court in 1999 and reelected in 2002.

But only a year after his reelection, King was removed from the bench by the La. Supreme Court after he was found to have threatened courthouse employees with termination if they did not volunteer for fundraising efforts to help his campaign resolve its debt.  He was also barred from seeking elected office for five years.

After reaching a plea agreement with the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office in 2007 for conspiracy to commit payroll fraud, he received an interim suspension before being disbarred tin a 4-3 vote by the La. Supreme Court in 2010.

Three years later, the La. Supreme Court, in a 5-2 vote, is allowing King to be reinstated.

In their ruling, made on Sept. 20, the court ruled that King will under go a probationary period during which he must complete the La. State Bar Association’s Ethic School program, be appointed a practice monitor and comply with any requirements imposed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.