DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
5 comments:
ABOVE THE LAW..
In July 2011, Lancaster Online reported that according to court records, Ballentine had dismissed parking and registration tickets she had received. The Judicial Conduct Board in Pennsylvania makes clear that a judge should remove oneself from proceedings in which she/he is a party.[5] Ballentine was suspended from the bench from February 11 to May 31, 2013, but was allowed to return to work in June 2013. She will, however, remain on probation until December 31, 2014.[6]
The sum of her unpaid parking fines was $269.59, but Ballentine was fined $1,500 for the misconduct.
ORDER
AND NOW, this 28th day of May, 2013, upon consideration of the Judicial
Conduct Board’s Petition For Suspension Without Pay dated February 11, 2013, the said
Petition is GRANTED.
It is further ORDERED that:
A. This Order is effective as of February 11, 2013, and
B. Respondent shall repay to the Commonwealth what it has paid to
Respondent since February 11, 2013 in:
1. salary,
2. the Commonwealth’s share of Respondent’s retirement
contributions, and
3. the Commonwealth’s share of Respondent’s Social Security
contribution.
C. these amounts shall be determined by the Administrative Office of
Pennsylvania Courts and the Judicial Conduct Board shall advise this Court on or before
June 14, 2013 of those amounts so determined,
ORDER
AND NOW, this 10th day of June, 2013, after a hearing held on the question of
sanctions on May 17, 2013, and after consideration of memoranda filed by the Judicial
Conduct Board and the Respondent and exhibits presented by Respondent, it is hereby
ORDERED that Respondent is suspended from her judicial office without pay until May
31, 2013, and thereafter she shall be placed on probation until December 31, 2014.
Probation shall be conditional upon Respondent’s repayment of compensation
paid to her by the Commonwealth during the period from February 11, 2013 to May 31,
2013 according to the following schedule:
$5,000.00 on or before July 1, 2013,
$1,296.93 on or before August 1, 2013,
$1,000.00 monthly thereafter on the first day of each month until August, 2014.
Said probation shall be subject to the supervision of this Court and shall be
subject to the condition that Respondent report monthly to the Chief Counsel of the
Judicial Conduct Board or his designee at the times prescribed by the Judicial Conduct
Board, and the Judicial Conduct Board shall file a written report monthly with this Court
advising that, to its knowledge, Respondent, has, or has not, been in compliance with the 2
condition set out above and with the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of
Magisterial District Judges and the provisions of Article V of the Pennsylvania
Constitution pertaining to the conduct of magisterial district judges.
My hat's off to the gentlemen.
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