Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts today called upon the Judicial Conduct Board to amend its policy of deferring investigations into complaints against judges when criminal investigations are pending. This follows the Judicial Conduct Board’s issuance of new Internal Operating Procedures that in part address the deferral policy. PMC questions the wisdom of the deferral policy generally, its potential role in allowing the Luzerne County Courthouse debacle to continue as long as it did, and the Judicial Conduct Board’s ability to ensure that it will not permit another Luzerne County-type scandal to go unexamined and unpunished. 
 
PMC is specifically concerned with the Judicial Conduct Board’s handling of cases that allege judicial misconduct in office – allegations related to the judicial role or function itself.  As PMC Deputy Director Shira Goodman explained, “Where there are allegations relating to subversion of the judicial role, the obligation of the Judicial Conduct Board to protect our system of justice from rogue judges should wait for no other process.” To read PMC’s press release, click here.  To read PMC’s letter to the Judicial Conduct Board click here.