By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – A judge has dismissed felony election law charges against former Secretary of State Nancy Worley but left intact misdemeanor counts in the case.
Circuit Judge Truman Hobbs, who had questioned whether felony charges were warranted under the circumstances, ruled them out as Worley's trial got underway in Montgomery circuit court Wednesday.
State prosecutors asked the the trial be delayed while they appeal Hobbs' ruling to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.
Worley is accused of sending campaign letters, campaign contribution envelopes and bumper stickers to five of her employees in the secretary of state's office. She was charged under a state law that makes it a misdemeanor for a public official to ask for campaign donations from employees and a felony for an official to use his or her position to influence the vote of any person.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)