Since that mailing, a number of the state's leading Democrats, including two former state party chairman, have backed away from Judge Martin.

At the time, Judge Martin's decision in the high profile case took a toll on his family.

"You don't tell the Federal Court to go to hell," Judge Martin said.

"I am someone who does not believe in the death penalty," Judge Martin noted at the sentencing.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Judge Martin said the report was "factually incorrect."

"There was a sense here at certain levels in this company that you better not tell the bad news," Judge Martin said during the sentencing today.

In the end, however, Judge Martin agreed with the prosecution.

This is the only other part of the house where Judge Martin made major changes.

"There is no reason to deny them the right to march using that one lane of traffic," Judge Martin ruled.

"I think the company is making a serious effort to deal with these problems," Judge Martin said from the bench.