Judge reverses Kilpatrick tether order

DETROIT, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A judge has reversed a court order that Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick may remove an electronic tether and attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Wayne County, Mich., Circuit Judge Leonard Townsend ruled Thursday that Kilpatrick may take off his electronic tether because it was important to Detroit that the mayor be at the convention, The Detroit Free Press said. Kilpatrick is a superdelegate.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said he would appeal the judge's ruling and Judge Ronald Giles issued a ruling late Thursday indicating that Kilpatrick may not remove the electronic device and remain within Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, the newspaper said.

Kilpatrick had been placed on a tether because of an earlier bond violation. Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty, his former chief of staff, entered pleas of innocent perjury and other felony charges at their arraignment before Townsend, the Detroit News said.

Giles is the judge in two felony assault charges against Kilpatrick for allegedly shoving a sheriff's deputy as the deputy was attempting to serve a subpoena in the perjury case.