Judge weighs pre-trial issues in Ga. ethics lawsuit

ATLANTA (AP) - An attorney for Georgia's ethics commission is asking a judge to avoid an upcoming trial in the case of a former employee who alleges retaliation for investigating ethics complaints against Gov. Nathan Deal.

Assistant Attorney General Bryan Webb argued his case for summary judgment on Thursday before Fulton County Judge Ural Glanville.

Glanville didn't immediately issue a ruling. But the judge did indicate there are questions a jury should consider.

Stacey Kalberman is the former executive secretary at the ethics commission. She claims commissioners cut her salary and eliminated her deputy's position as they were seeking approval to issue subpoenas in the Deal case.

Commissioners have denied any wrongdoing.

At the time, commission staff members were investigating Deal's 2010 campaign reports.