Litigation

Sisters of PA Justice Face Charges over Campaign

By Peter Hardin

Two sisters of a Pennsylvania state Supreme Court justice–including one who is a powerful state senator–are accused of using staff on the public payroll to help run the campaign of the sister who is a justice.

Republican Joan Orie Melvin was elected to the state Supreme Court in a high-spending contest last year. This week, state Sen. Jane Orie, who is the Republican whip, and Janine Orie, now an aide to Justice Melvin, were arrested on charges of theft of services and criminal conspiracy, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.

Sen. Jane Orie said in a letter she was temporarily stepping down as majority whip. She voiced confidence she will be cleared and criticized the “obsessive and vendetta-drawn efforts” of Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala.

Justice Melvin was not charged. Her 2009 campaign prompted the investigation of work at Sen. Orie’s legislative offices, according to the Post-Gazette. You can read more about the 2009 campaign in Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on April 08, 2010 (boomark / email).