NC judge going before commission for conduct

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A North Carolina judge is going before a state commission that could remove him from the bench. The Judicial Standards Commission will hold a hearing Thursday on Mecklenburg County Judge Bill Belk. The commission cited him for making disparaging comments about Chief Justice Sarah Parker and also for violating the Code of Judicial Conduct for continuing to serve on corporate boards. Belk has said the conduct code does not explicitly prohibit work on corporate boards and that the outside work has not violated the court's impartiality. He denied making disparaging remarks about Parker. If the commission disciplines Belk, the penalty could range from a public reprimand to suspension or removal from the bench. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)