Court rejects bid to remove judge in Pitino case

A federal appeals court has rejected a bid to remove the judge overseeing the case of a woman convicted of trying to extort millions from University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino.

The two-page decision issued Monday by the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals also turned down a request by Karen Cunagin Sypher to delay her sentencing, which is set for Feb. 18.

Sypher was convicted in August of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. Prosecutors said she sought millions in cash, cars and a house from Pitino to stay quiet about their one-night stand at a Louisville restaurant in 2003.

Her attorney, David Nolan, has filed multiple motions alleging a wide-ranging conspiracy involving Pitino, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III and multiple people involved in the case. Prosecutors have called Sypher's claims meritless.

Voters to narrow Supreme Court candidate field

Wisconsin has focused on the Green Bay Packers and Gov. Scott Walker for the last month, but another fight with perhaps just as much impact on the state is about to take center stage -- the state Supreme Court primary.

Justice David Prosser faces three challengers. Voters on Tuesday will choose two survivors who will face off in April's general election. The winner gets a 10-year term on the court.

The primary has played out in the background as the Packers charged to a Super Bowl title and Walker proposed doing away with state workers' unions. But the general election could ultimately tilt the ideological balance of the court for years to come.

State election officials expect about 10 percent of the state's voters will venture to the polls Tuesday.