RALEIGH -- A Wake County judge declined Thursday to block a legislative ethics hearing from taking place next week against Rep. Thomas Wright, saying it wasn't his place to intervene in the disciplinary affairs of the Legislature.

Wright's attorney asked Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway to prevent a House committee from meeting Monday to consider ethical misconduct charges against Wright. He said media coverage would taint the jury pool in Wright's upcoming criminal trial on similar allegations and unveil his defense strategy to prosecutors.

Attorney Irving Joyner also said the House panel couldn't investigate Wright or seek a punishment against the Wilmington Democrat. Ridgeway rejected the argument after the 90-minute hearing.

''The North Carolina constitution expressly assigns the power to discipline members to the General Assembly,'' Ridgeway said in denying Wright's request for a temporary restraining order to prevent the panel from meeting, ultimately until after the trial.

A trial date has not been set. Joyner said Wright may appeal Ridgeway's ruling.

The ethics panel is considering eight counts of ethical misconduct against Wright that are nearly identical to his criminal charges. Both accuse Wright of misusing or failing to report more than $350,000 in campaign donations, loans and charitable money.

The six-member House committee could recommend that Wright be censured or expelled from office if it finds clear and convincing evidence that he participated in conduct unbecoming a lawmaker. A North Carolina legislator hasn't been expelled since 1880.

Ridgeway said the doctrine of separation of powers discouraged him from getting his hands in the workings of the Legislature.

But Joyner said the case crossed that line. He said arguments presented to the legislative panel could reveal the strategy he planned to use during trial, giving criminal prosecutors an advantage and harming Wright's constitutional right to a fair trial.

''That is a prejudice that Representative Wright will suffer. It will be one that is irreparable,'' said Joyner, calling the ethics hearing Monday part of a ''rush to judgment'' against Wright.

State attorneys told Ridgeway that Wright is not being forced to provide self-incriminating evidence. The prosecutors also noted that the investigation against Wright at the General Assembly began last May when Wright's campaign finance problems were made public by the State Board of Elections.

''The people of North Carolina have a right to have that resolved so that the Legislature can move forward to do business the way it's supposed to be done,'' said Alexander Peters, a special deputy attorney general.

Wright filed his candidacy papers Thursday to seek a ninth term in office, according to the State Board of Elections. Two other Democrats also are running for his 18th House District seat in the May 6 primary.

A Wake County grand jury indicted Wright on five counts of fraud and one count of obstruction of justice. All are felonies, and Wright faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Prosecutors accuse Wright of converting $185,000 in campaign contributions to his personal use. He also is accused of fraudulently obtaining $160,000 in bank loans for a foundation he led in Wilmington and for keeping $8,900 in donations from three companies that believed the money would be used for his foundation's charitable work.

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