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Accused judge asks for removal of panelists

Times Staff Writer
Published August 6, 2004

TAMPA - Hillsborough Circuit Judge Greg Holder, who is preparing to defend himself against plagiarism charges leveled by the Judicial Qualifications Commission, is asking four of six members of the JQC hearing panel to disqualify themselves from his case.

In court papers, Holder said he fears he won't get fair treatment with panelists John Kuder, Thomas Freeman, Leonard Haber and Ricardo Morales III hearing the case against him, since they served on a previous JQC panel investigating whether he had given false information on an application for a federal judgeship.

In the prior case, the panel determined there was probable cause to file charges against Holder.

The JQC panel is set to hear the plagiarism case against Holder in September.

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