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RALEIGH, N.C., Feb 28, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A challenge has been issued against a North Carolina lawyer who wants her nickname, "Madame Justice," on the ballot for an upcoming state judicial election.
Rachel Lea Hunter of Cary, N.C., is running for the state Supreme Court, and on Friday, filed for the seat sought to have the nickname listed with her full name on the ballot.
But the next day, Raleigh lawyer Michael Weisel wrote to the State Board of Elections to complain the name made her sound like she was already a judge, the Raleigh News & Observer said.
"I believe the use of 'Madame Justice' in an official ballot name conveys neither respect for the North Carolina courts or information useful to the voter, and may tend to mislead them as to Ms. Hunter's qualifications," Weisel wrote.
Hunter, who has never been a judge, says she adopted the nickname in 1998 when she began using the Internet. Since 2004, when she first ran for the court, Hunter has had an "Ask Madame Justice" feature on her campaign Web site that allows the public to ask her legal questions.
The commission has not yet ruled on the complaint.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
