NASHVILLE (AP) — A judge has been publicly reprimanded because of contact she had with the district attorney's office about how she would run her court.

The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/2134HHJ) reports that Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers complained after Judge Allegra Walker sent emails to prosecutors in June outlining what types of plea agreements she would accept in domestic violence court. The defense attorneys said the emails showed she was biased in favor of prosecutors.

A recent reprimand letter from the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct says Walker cooperated in the board's investigation and explained the reason for her email was to "better assure they would comply with certain statutory requirements for such cases."

The letter says Walker acted in good faith, but understood and acknowledged her actions created the "appearance of impropriety."