Calls, Texts Between Davis, Judge During Gray Trials Raise Questions

Some communication between Baltimore's police commissioner and an administrative judge is raising questions.

Through a Maryland Public Information Act request, the 11 News I-Team obtained records of telephone calls and text messages between Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis and Baltimore City Circuit Administrative Judge Michel Pierson, the boss of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams, who presided over the trials of the officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray.

Both the judge and police commissioner declined to tell 11 News what they discussed.

Legal analysts agree that coordinating security on decision days is a legitimate reason for the communication, but they question contact on the weekend and on days of routine testimony.

Davis and Pierson communicated with each other at least 26 times during the officers' trials.

Davis released a statement Friday, saying, "Of course, I was in contact with the court during the trials. The community has a vested interest in addressing any potential public safety concerns before they arise. Anyone who doesn't understand that leadership requires preventive conversations doesn't understand leadership."

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