A suburban Detroit judge booted from the bench for financial misconduct has lost her bid to return to the bench.

The Michigan Supreme Court removed Inkster District Judge Sylvia James on July 31, calling her unfit for office.

An investigation found that James turned a community service fund into her own private foundation, spending money to travel and to promote herself.

James lost in Tuesday's general election to Judge Sabrina Johnson despite finishing first during the primary elections in August.

James' lawyer Mayer Morganroth says his client she denied any wrongdoing.

Johnson finished behind James in the primary. Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Johnson to the judgeship in September, but they still faced off in the election.