February 22, 2013

Jury finds Orie Melvin guilty on all but one count

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

By Paula Reed Ward / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A jury found suspended Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin guilty on all but one count today. Her sister, Janine Orie, was found guilty on all but one count.

The sisters were charged with misapplication of government funds, theft of services and conspiracy for using the justice's former Superior Court staff and the legislative staff of a third sister, former state Sen. Jane Orie, to run campaigns for the Supreme Court in 2003 and 2009.

Among the allegations are that staffers wrote speeches, drove her to campaign events and worked the polls.

The jury was hung on one count of official oppression against Justice Orie Melvin.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/politics-state/jury-deliberating-orie-melvin-public-corruption-case-close-to-verdict-676334/

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The PA Supreme Court is currently short one (Republican) judge. As I understand it, now that she's been convicted, Governor Corbett will be able to appoint a new justice.

Until now, she couldn't serve on the court, but couldn't be replaced, so the court was balanced with 3 Republicans and 3 Democrats. Assuming Corbett appoints a Republican and the legislature approves (a likely assumption) it will go back to 4 Repubs and 3 Dems.