Rejected appeal makes Pa. State senator's trial delay less likely

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Superior Court has rejected a last-minute appeal by the defense, making it less likely that the public corruption trial of state Sen. Jane Orie will be delayed.

Jury selection is scheduled to start Tuesday for Orie, who’s accused of illegally using her state-funded staff to do campaign work for herself and her sister, Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin.

The senator’s attorney and the state Republican caucus have asked the state Supreme Court to delay the trial and consider reversing the trial judge’s ruling upholding the constitutionality of the state’s conflict of interest statute.

The Superior Court today dismissed a similar appeal as moot, but it’s not clear when the Supreme Court may rule, which could potentially delay the trial.