Pennsylvania Attorney General To Get Chance To Argue Against Judge's Contempt Hearing

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A three judge panel in Montgomery County will hear motions Monday morning on why the state attorney general should not have to explain why she fired her chief deputy.

Judge William Carpenter is overseeing a grand jury investigation into allegations that Kathleen Kane's office leaked secret information. He thinks she may have fired her deputy, James Barker, because of his testimony in the case.

That might violate a protective order that covers grand jury witnesses. Carpenter assembled the three-judge panel to hear whether she could be charged with "indirect contempt of court," but Kane's lawyers filed motions challenging the proceeding.

The panel will hear those motions Monday. They include charges that the Judge Carpenter is so prejudiced against Kane, he should recuse himself from all further proceedings involving the attorney general.

They also include a firm denial that Kane fired Barker for anything but due cause.