BOSTON -- Judge Maria Lopez painted a picture of herself as a victim of the media at her judicial misconduct hearing on Wednesday.

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"You believe that indeed you're the victim, don't you -- with regard to these proceedings?" prosecutor Paul Ware said.

"Yes," Lopez said.

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda said that Lopez later explained she did not mean to equate herself with a victim of a crime, and certainly not the victim preyed upon by Ebony Horton, the transsexual she sentenced to probation after Horton pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a child.

Lopez sentenced Horton to probation, but the misconduct hearing is examining Lopez's treatment of the prosecutor during the case and discussions she had with others outside the case.

Lopez told the special prosecutor that 50 percent of the people who appear before any judge go away mad and make plenty of enemies.

"I believe that there are a number of complaints and a lot of the press frenzy, some of it was motivated by my enemies," Lopez said.

Under questioning by her own attorney, Lopez testified she felt unfairly treated by the Judicial Conduct Commission.

"I've gone before the commission. I've apologized for my demeanor issues, and I really believe that his matter should have been resolved in the way that most if not the overwhelming majority of complaints before the commission are resolved," Lopez said.

Lopez also testified that the morning of the Horton sentencing, she was concerned that the enormous media attention which she has said was triggered by the prosecution was going to cause the plea agreement to fall apart.

The judge said that wouldn't have been good for anyone -- especially the 12-year-old victim.

"If this was not a plea, this child would have to be put through a trial, which means having to be prepa red, having to go over and over the testimony he would have to present. Then, the child would be subjected to cross-examination. I knew there were some inconsisten cies, so I was concerned about the child having to be put through this process," Lopez said.

The defense lost a round Wednesday morning regarding the admission of public complaints sent to the Judicial Conduct Commission.

Defense attorney Richard Egbert objected to their admission because they could not be cross-examined or verified for their veracity.

Judge George Daher ruled in favor of the special prosecutor who argued they should be admitted because the complaints, in part, triggered the investigation of Lopez by the commission.