Cook County judge pleads not guilty in mortgage fraud case

CHICAGO (AP) - A Cook County judge has pleaded not guilty to federal fraud charges accusing her of lying to obtain mortgages for Chicago investment properties.

Judge Jessica O'Brien entered her plea during a brief hearing Wednesday in federal court in Chicago during which she was formally charged.

O'Brien is accused of lying and concealing relevant facts from lenders to obtain more than $1.4 million in mortgages. The mortgages were obtained for properties she purchased and sold between 2004 and 2007.

Also Wednesday the office of the county's chief judge said the court's executive committee decided Tuesday to order O'Brien to stop hearing cases and reassigned her to administrative duties. She was assigned to non-judicial duties immediately after she was charged.