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OF A CRIME. >> ABSOLUTELY, I QUESTION THIS CONVICTION. TODD: FACED WITH THE VERY REAL PROSPECT OF SPENDING SIX MONTHS IN JAIL, TRACIE HUNTER PULLED NO PUNCHES DURING AN INTERVIEW TODAY THAT LASTED NEARLY AN HOUR. YOU DON’T BELIEVE THAT YOU COMMITTED A CRIME? >> NO. I DID NOT COMMIT A CRIME. TODD: IN 2010, HUNTER BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED TO HAMILTON COUNTY’S JUVENILE COURT. FIVE YEARS AGO, A JURY CONVICTED HUNTER OF ILLEGALLY HELPING HER BROTHER KEEP HIS JOB. BUT SHE SAYS THE CHARGE, DESIGNED TO PREVENT PUBLIC OFFICIALS FROM HIRING LOVED ONES WAS WRONG TO BEGIN WITH. >> THAT’S WHAT THIS STATUTE IS DESIGNED TO COVER. I DIDN’T DO ANY OF THIS. TODD: FEDERAL JUDGE TIMOTHY BLACK, WHO WAS NOMINATED TO THE COURT BY PRESIDENT OBAMA, RECENTLY RULED HUNTER’S CONVICTION WAS APPROPRIATE. BLACK CITED QUOTE STRONG EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE JURY’S VERDICT. IT’S EVIDENCE HUNTER STILL >> THERE IS NO EVIDENCE, BECAUSE I DIDN’T BREAK ANY LAWS HERE. TODD: HUNTER TOLD ME THE CASE AGAINST HER SEEMED TO BE STACKED FROM THE START. SHE’S CONVINCED THE JURY SELECTION PROCESS AND THE TRIAL ITSELF WERE RIGGED FOR TWO REASONS. >> IT WAS POLITICAL AND ABSOLUTELY IT WAS RACIALLY MOTIVATED. TODD: NOW AFTER WAITING TWO YEARS FOR JUDGE BLACK’S RULING, HUNTER COULD SOON END UP IN A CELL AT THE HAMILTON COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER. ARE YOU CONCERNED FOR YOUR SAFETY IF YOU DO END UP JAIL? TALK ABOUT THAT. >> I’VE BEEN CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY SINCE 201 I’VE ABSOLUTELY BEEN CONCERNED FOR MY PHYSICAL SAFETY IN JAIL. TODD: HER CONCERN STEMS FROM WHAT HUNTER CLAIMS WAS A CASE ORCHESTRATED TO MAKE HER LOSE. SHE SAYS SHE’LL MAKE SURE SHE’S IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION BEFORE SPENDING A SINGLE DAY IN JAIL. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE I GO IN THAT NO ONE IS ABLE TO DO ANYTHING HARMFUL TO ME OR IF THEY DO, THAT PERSONS WLL KNOW THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME. TODD: JUDGE HUNTER IS ALSO A PASTOR AT A CHURCH IN WESTERN HILLS. SHE TOLD ME TODAY, IN HER FIRST T.V. INTERVIEW IN AT LEAST FIVE YEARS THAT SHE REMAINS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO HER FAITH AND BELIEVES GOD CONTINUES TO HAVE A PURPOSE FOR HER. TODD DYKES, WLWT NEW

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Faced with the very real prospect of spending six months in jail, former Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter pulled no punches during an interview Monday that lasted nearly an hour."Absolutely, I question this conviction," Hunter said. "I did not commit a crime."In 2010, Hunter became the first African American elected to Hamilton County's Juvenile Court.Five years ago, a jury convicted Hunter of illegally helping her brother keep his job. But she said the charge, designed to prevent public officials from hiring loved ones, was wrong to begin with."That's what this statute is designed to cover," Hunter said. "I didn't do any of this."Federal Judge Timothy Black, who was nominated to the court by President Barack Obama, recently ruled Hunter's conviction was appropriate. In his ruling, Black cited "strong evidence supporting the jury's verdict."It's evidence Hunter still disputes."There is no evidence, because I didn't break any laws here."Hunter told WLWT investigator Todd Dykes the case against her seemed to be stacked from the start. She's convinced the jury selection process and the trial itself were rigged for two reasons."It was political and absolutely, it was racially motivated," she said.Now, after waiting two years for Black's ruling, Hunter could soon end up in a cell at the Hamilton County Justice Center.Dykes asked the former judge is she's concerned for her safety if she does end up in jail."Todd, I've been concerned for my safety since 2010," Hunter said. "I've absolutely been concerned for my physical safety in jail."Her concern stems from what Hunter claims was a case orchestrated to make her lose. She said she'll make sure she's in good physical condition before spending a single day in jail."I just want to make sure that before I go in that no one is able to do anything harmful to me or if they do, that persons will know that something happened to me," she said.Hunter is a pastor at a church in Western Hills. She told Dykes Monday, in her first television interview in at least five years, that she remains deeply committed to her faith and believes God continues to have a purpose for her.