Security is beefed up for judge

What began as an Internet campaign to oust a district judge at the polls has escalated into a war of words that includes a death threat against her, prompting stepped-up security.

The threat against 3rd District Judge Leslie Lewis — or what looks suspiciously like one — is found on the Web site YouTube.com, which features courtroom video footage of Lewis and a comment board for reaction.

During the February hearing, she reprimanded Kent Jacobson, who was in the audience, and who apparently heaved a sigh and walked out of the courtroom.

Lewis ordered a bailiff to bring Jacobson back, questioned him and then ordered a bailiff to put him in handcuffs and into a holding cell.

Jacobson's brother, Michael, was the defendant in the case, which involved a third-degree felony charge of wanton destruction of protected wildlife. Lewis was stating her reasons for recusing herself in the case, namely her personal feelings against deer hunting, when Kent Jacobson walked out of the room.

In a "comment" blog on the YouTube site, one individual with the moniker "cybyte" posted this statement: "Where is she? She needs to be killed? Someone post her address for anyone who dislikes her can get rid of this POS."

Other comments explain where the courthouse is located and her office phone number. Some comments support Lewis, but most denounce either her conduct on the bench or her views on hunting.

Paul Jaroscak, spokesman for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, which handles court security, said he could not address specifics about any measures being taken to protect Lewis but said his office is aware of the posting and is "taking appropriate steps" in the situation.

"We don't talk a lot about security," Jaroscak said. "We received an anonymous phone call and they said, 'Hey, you might want to look on this Web site.' We saw it. We immediately took a report. We have forwarded that to the Utah Attorney General's Office.

"This morning (Friday) we met with Judge Lewis and informed her of the Web site and the threat and offered any advice we could give her for personal security. We also told her to contact her local jurisdiction where she lives and let them know — and that happens to be us anyway. She lives in a jurisdiction served by the sheriff's office."

The YouTube posting followed the creation of a Web site, firejudgelewis.com, that has drawn the support of some members of the hunting community.

The firejudgelewis.com site has posted a disclaimer: "Please note: the author of this site does not condone, encourage or advocate violence against Judge Lewis or anyone else. Unlike certain judges, the author of this site respects other human beings."

The firejudgelewis.com site urges voters to remove Lewis from the bench by voting "no" Nov. 7.

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E-mail: lindat@desnews.com