Former Mayor Kilpatrick gets reprieve

DETROIT, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A Michigan appeals court struck down an arrest warrant for former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, his lawyer said.

Presiding Judge Karen Hood wrote that Kilpatrick's case is being put on hold "for reasons of judicial economy," the Detroit Free Press reported.

A circuit court judge signed an arrest warrant for the former Detroit mayor Thursday for various allegations of parole violations, including failure to make a court-ordered payment of $79,000.

Hours later, the Court of Appeals asked for more paperwork on the case and then announced it was putting everything on hold.

Kilpatrick attorney Daniel Hajji said Kilpatrick was thrilled with the appellate court's action.

The appellate panel ruling means that the judges "want to take a look to see if they want to get involved," said Wayne State University law Professor Peter Henning.

Kilpatrick, who pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges in 2008, has agreed to pay $1 million in restitution to the city of Detroit.