Pennsylvania

Judge gets 6-month suspension, partly for misusing her contempt power

A Philadelphia judge has been suspended for six months for misconduct that included misusing her contempt power and “harshly belittling” people in family court.

Jun 4, 2021 11:31 AM CDT

Judge resigns after facing multiple misconduct charges over courtroom outbursts

A Pennsylvania judge who was facing misconduct allegations over outbursts at attorneys and litigants in his courtroom resigned Tuesday.

Jun 2, 2021 10:48 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Controversial remarks by ‘QAnon shaman’ lawyer; progressive district attorney wins primary

Lawyer for ‘QAnon shaman’ says rioters are ‘short-bus people’ Albert Watkins, the lawyer for the accused U.S. Capitol Hill rioter known as the “QAnon Shaman,” told Talking Points Memo that a lot of the rioting defendants are “short-bus people.” Watkins said the defendants are people with “brain damage, they’re f-…

May 19, 2021 4:19 PM CDT

District attorney resigns as part of plea deal in pressured-sex case

A district attorney in Pennsylvania has resigned as a condition of his guilty plea for allegedly pressuring clients while he was in private practice to engage in prostitution for legal services.

May 10, 2021 2:48 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge denies QAnon connection; investors sue over ‘Voltswagen’ prank press release

Pennsylvania judge denies any QAnon connection A Philadelphia judge running for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is denying any connection to QAnon and its conspiracy theories. Judge Paula Patrick told the Philadelphia Inquirer that she hadn’t even heard of an upcoming event staged by QAnon supporters, even though she was listed…

May 3, 2021 4:30 PM CDT

Pennsylvania bar president resigns after he’s charged with patronizing a prostitute

Pennsylvania Bar Association President David Eric Schwager resigned Tuesday, the same day that he was charged with patronizing a prostitute who allegedly tried to extort him.

Apr 29, 2021 2:20 PM CDT

Top state court deadlocks on fiduciary exception to attorney-client privilege in K&L Gates case

A deadlocked Pennsylvania Supreme Court was unable to decide last week whether trust beneficiaries are entitled to legal billing statements and other lawyer communications with the trustee under a fiduciary exemption to attorney-client privilege.

Apr 14, 2021 3:00 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge’s husband heads to prison; Stephen Miller’s new legal group to sue over Biden policies

Husband of appeals judge goes to prison Suspended lawyer Charles McCullough, the husband of a Pennsylvania appeals judge, reported to prison Tuesday after he was convicted of stealing $50,000 from an elderly widow. McCullough is married to Patricia McCullough, who is running for a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.…

Apr 8, 2021 4:45 PM CDT

The pandemic has not slowed down Howard Bashman of How Appealing

Howard Bashman of How Appealing discusses blogging during COVID-19 and how appellate work in Pennsylvania has changed in the pandemic.

Mar 29, 2021 9:05 AM CDT

Secret camera recordings can be used against nanny at trial, state supreme court says

A divided Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Thursday that secretly recorded audio can be used against a nanny accused of assaulting three young children.

Mar 26, 2021 9:50 AM CDT

3rd Circuit calls out lawyer for ‘copy-and-paste’ appeal, orders him to pay attorney fees

A federal appeals court has ordered a Pennsylvania lawyer to pay his opponents’ appellate legal fees for filing a “frivolous” appeal and submitting a brief “that was essentially a copy of the one he filed in the district court.”

Mar 23, 2021 11:34 AM CDT

Prosecutor’s DoorDash side gig leads to demotion

The first assistant district attorney in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, has been demoted for working as a delivery driver for the online food ordering company DoorDash during work hours.

Mar 22, 2021 2:05 PM CDT

State ethics officials may draft new version of lawyer-bias ban after dropping appeal of adverse ruling

Pennsylvania ethics officials have withdrawn a federal appeal that sought to reinstate an ethics rule banning lawyers from knowingly manifesting bias or engaging in discrimination in the practice of law.

Mar 19, 2021 9:42 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge trims maternity claims against BigLaw firm; prison guards ordered to wear body cams

Judge trims claims by ex-Morrison & Foerster lawyers A magistrate judge is allowing two former lawyers at Morrison & Foerster to pursue punitive damages in their suit claiming that the firm discriminated against them for taking maternity leave. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of the Northern District of California…

Mar 15, 2021 4:45 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge orders negotiation on ‘race-norming’ claim in NFL case; judiciary considers amicus disclosure

Judge tosses challenge to ‘race-norming’ in dementia tests U.S. District Judge Anita Brody of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has dismissed a lawsuit challenging “race-norming” in dementia tests used to determine which retired NFL players qualify for compensation in a concussion settlement. Brody said the league and the class counsel…

Mar 9, 2021 3:03 PM CST