A federal judge today heard arguments for and against dismissal of a racial discrimination lawsuit filed last year against The Honolulu Advertiser.

The suit was filed by Pati Poblete, a Filipina who joined The Advertiser in September 2006 after working at the San Francisco Chronicle. Poblete, the former deputy editorial page editor of The Advertiser, alleged she was moved out of her job and transferred into a lesser role and faced discrimination because of her race.
Senior Federal Judge Samuel King heard arguments from Advertiser attorney Tamara Gerrard and Poblete’s lawyer, Venetia Carpenter-Asui, and said he will issue a ruling later.