Panel says Pa. Supreme Court justice promoted staff campaign work

Panel says Pa. Supreme Court justice promoted staff campaign work

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A grand jury says Pennsylvania state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin illegally used her state-funded staff for campaigning during two attempts to earn a seat on the state’s highest court — including her successful bid in 2009.

A grand jury presentment released today says Melvin “actively condoned and even promoted” campaign-related activity by state-paid workers while she was a Superior Court judge.

The Allegheny County district attorney’s office says Melvin will surrender today to face nine criminal counts resulting from the investigation.

Prosecutors say Melvin and her staff used personal email accounts to help hide political activities by judicial staffers.

The high court relieved Melvin of all judicial and administrative duties today as a result of the charges.

A letter from a Melvin attorney to Chief Justice Ronald Castille denies any wrongdoing by the judge.