Pa. Judge in Ethics Case Over Landlord Activities
A Philadelphia judge is facing a misconduct charge based on his alleged use of his judicial office resources during his sideline real estate activities.
Willis Berry, who was a candidate for the state supreme court several years ago, is accused in a complaint filed today by the Judicial Conduct Board of improperly using his state-supplied secretary to help him run a rental business during regular office hours, reports the Associated Press. In addition to keeping property files for his business at his judicial office, Berry also allegedly used his judicial phone number and address on classified ads and rental signs when he sought new tenants, according to the complaint.
“That conduct violated the state constitution by bringing the judiciary into disrepute, the board said in its filing with the Court of Judicial Discipline in Harrisburg,” the news agency recounts.
Berry is now entitled to a trial before the court, to determine whether the complaint is warranted.
