During that time, the JCC document said the judge had contact with Blanton outside the courtroom on several occasions:

• In Blanton's home, with others present including her children, her sister and a baby sitter, to check on Blanton's progress.

• During a meeting that included Blanton and her husband to encourage them to "continue their efforts."

• In chambers when Blanton came to the courthouse and complained about the sentence another woman got for a drug offense. The judge listened but did not make any remarks other than to thank her for her input, according to the JCC document.

• Again at Blanton's home when her children were there, with the judge arriving unannounced bearing a small bouquet of roses with the intention of saying "keep up the good work/sorry the judge did something that made your recovery even more difficult." Halliday talked with Blanton about using recovering addicts as a resource for the court. He also asked if an unnamed woman who lost her children in drug court could succeed in an adult court probation experiment "similar to what Judge Halliday was doing with Blanton" and Blanton told him no.

• After her probation ended successfully, the judge sent Blanton a congratulatory card.

The 7th judicial district covers Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties.

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E-mail: lindat@desnews.com