LOS ANGELES : Holden Sexual Harassment Case Sent to Orange County

A sexual harassment case against City Councilman Nate Holden has been assigned to an Orange County judge because the entire Los Angeles Superior Court bench was disqualified from hearing it.

The disqualifications came after Judge Dion G. Morrow--who is the stepfather of Carla Cavalier, one of Holden’s accusers and a former employee of the councilman--disqualified himself from involvement. Another judge had earlier disqualified himself.

The matter was turned over to the Judicial Council of California, which approved assignment of the case to Donald E. Smallwood, presiding judge of Orange County Superior Court.

Karen Ringuette, a spokeswoman for the Judicial Council, said the case will technically remain under the jurisdiction of Robert M. Mallano, presiding judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, under a reciprocal agreement.

Cavalier is one of two former Holden aides who have accused him in lawsuits of sexually harassing them and helping create a sexually charged environment in his City Hall office.