Milwaukee County Judge John Siefert wants to donate $25 to a presidential candidate.

But because a 40-year-old state rule bars judges from donating, endorsing, or campaigning for partisan candidates, he can't do it.

Siefert can't even say who he wants to give the money to.

He's asking a federal court to rule that the prohibition designed to protect the impartiality and integrity of the judicial system violates his constitutional right to free speech.

A hearing today is set to determine whether the rule enforced by the Wisconsin Judicial Commission should be temporarily suspended while the lawsuit seeking its abolition progresses.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)