Judge orders new hearing on ethics sanctions

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville has ordered a new hearing for Monday after former ethics commission director Holly LaBerge appealed the $10,000 fine the judge levied against her.

Glanville last week sanctioned LaBerge and the Attorney General's Office, which was also fined $10,000, for failing to turn over key records in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by LaBerge's predecessor. LaBerge was fired Monday, the same day her personal attorney, Lee Parks, filed his notice of appeal.

The appeal centers on Glanville’s decision to sanction LaBerge personally, meaning she would have to pay the fine from her own money. She was sued by former ethics commission director Stacey Kalberman, however, that was in her official capacity as the commission’s executive director. Parks argued that LaBerge was not given advance notice that she could be punished individually.