Kohring was convicted on federal bribery and extortion charges in November and is seeking to have the case thrown out or get a new trial. He was found guilty of demanding and accepting at least $2,600 from Veco Corp. executives for his support on legislation. He had been scheduled to be sentenced Monday, but the hearing was postponed.
Kohring's attorney, John Henry Browne of Seattle, argued that U.S. District Judge John Sedwick should step down because he has a conflict of interest. Browne claimed that Kohring introduced legislation that cost Sedwick's wife, Deborah, her state job, and that Sedwick should never have presided over Kohring's trial.
In reality, she remained a state commissioner, in charge of a revamped department.
Sedwick on Monday asked U.S. District Judge Russel Holland to decide the matter.
In an order filed Wednesday, Holland said in cases such as this, a judge has to disqualify himself where his impartiality might be reasonably questioned. He sent the question back to Sedwick
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