Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning ruled that State Supreme Court Justice Max Baer, Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski and four court administrators will not have to testify at Justice Joan Orie Melvin’s hearing on July 30. Melvin is facing nine charges alleging that she used her state-funded judicial staff to do campaign work.
 
Melvin’s attorney, Patrick Casey, issued subpoenas for the six witnesses to testify and produce documents at the hearing. District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala, Jr. and counsel for the witnesses challenged the subpoenas saying that they were outside the scope of the hearing. Judge Manning agreed with the challengers and threw out the subpoenas.