Lewis will be on leave until the end of the year, when her term ends.

Lewis, who did not return to work this week after a vacation, had requested to be put on administrative leave, according to a news release issued on behalf of Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham.

Durham said she consulted with Presiding 3rd District Judge Sandra Peuler before determining that leave was "in the best interests of the judiciary and Judge Lewis.''

"Administrative leave will promote the proper and efficient functioning of the courts," Durham said.

Nancy Volmer, spokeswoman for the state Administrative Office of the Courts, said Lewis' caseload will be divided among the other district judges.

A 15-year veteran of the bench, Lewis was due back to work this week after a vacation to Italy that she had scheduled prior to the Nov. 7 election, in which 54 percent of voters rejected retaining her in office.

At the suggestion of fellow judges, who offered to step in and handle her cases, Lewis did not show up for work this week, according to Volmer.

Lewis had the option of remaining in office through the end of this year, but Salt Lake County District Attorney David Yocom had threatened to ask the judge to recuse herself from all cases involving county attorneys.

Yocom feared the judge might be prejudiced against them because his office complained to the Judicial Conduct Commission (JCC) after the judge reduced a sex-offender's sentence without notifying prosecutors.

The complaint alleges Lewis had an ex parte (one side only) conversation with a defense attorney and then reduced his client's sentence by 10 years - from 30 years to life down to 20 years to life - without informing prosecutors.

Those accusations of judicial misconduct came on the heels of an 11th-hour campaign to unseat Lewis by gun advocates and a Web site.

The Internet site, www.firejudgelewis.com, provided a link to courtroom video of the judge dressing down a deer poacher and then ordering the poacher's brother handcuffed and held for 20 minutes after he heaved a sigh.

It was unknown whether the JCC was pursuing its investigation of Lewis in light of the election results.

The JCC works in secret unless the Utah Supreme Court issues a public sanction.

shunt@sltrib.com