Former Court Administrator Claims Religious Motives In Her Dismissal

Yesterday's Detroit News reports on a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by Julie Pucci, the former deputy administrator of Michigan's 19th District Court. Pucci was in a live-in sexual relationship with District Judge William Hultgren. In March 2005, Pucci was promoted to Deputy Administrator, but moved back to her deputy administrator position after the Michigan Supreme Court advised her to do so. Subsequently, Judge Mark Somers became chief judge of the 19th District Court. He reorganized the court and eliminated Pucci's position. Her lawsuit claims that Somers took that action because of his religious objections to her relationship with Hultgren. Pucci claims that Somers routinely forces his Christianity on the court, for example by asking defendants about their church attendance.