Walker and Claville were in U.S. District Court in Shreveport this afternoon for a brief arraignment hearing before Magistrate Mark Hornsby. Both stated their names but their lawyers did the rest of the talking for them. They will remain free on unsecured bond pending trial but must surrender their passports and cannot leave the United States.

A trial date will be set during a meeting with the judge on Dec. 10.

Federal prosecutors said an investigation code-named Broken Gavel caught Walker, a Caddo District Court judge who presided over drug cases, recalling arrest warrants, reducing bonds and setting bonds for accused drug dealers in return for kickbacks. Walker received both cash and prescription drugs, investigators said.

Claville, a Caddo Juvenile Court judge, took kickbacks to lift holds so individuals could get out of jail, prosecutors said.

Shreveport bail bondsman Larry Williams, who is accused of acting as a middleman, also pleaded not guilty today.

Walker would not talk to reporters as he arrived at the courthouse but one of his attorneys, Daryl Gold, said the judge will fight the charges.

"There will be a trial, and when it's over Judge Walker will be vindicated," Gold said outside the courthouse.

One of Claville's three lawyers, Jack Bailey, said they were representing Claville at no cost because he is "factually and legally innocent, and we are going to prove it."

Investigators said they have wiretaps and video surveillance as part of their case.

Both judges are off the bench while their cases are prosecuted. They voluntarily stepped aside when they were indicted and the Supreme Court has since disqualified them from performing any judicial duties while the case is pending. Both suspensions are with pay.