7-6 BONUSGAGE - Melvin Appeals
State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin has appealed a decision denying her request to have an out-of-county judge preside over her preliminary hearing on charges she used state staff in while campaigning for the court on which she sits.
Melvin on July 2 appealed the decision by Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning. She said in court papers that her appeal is made to the Supreme Court, rather than Superior Court as is usually the case, because of the need for an immediate ruling.
Her hearing has been postponed from July 9 to July 30.
Melvin, 56, of Marshall, is accused of illegally using her taxpayer-funded Superior Court staff to work on her 2003 and 2009 campaigns for a seat on the Supreme Court. She is facing nine counts including theft of services, conspiracy and official oppression.
In seeking an out-of-county judge for her hearing, Melvin cited a conflict of interest posed by the fact that the prosecution’s key witness, Lisa Sasinoski, is her former law clerk and the wife of Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski.
Manning last month sentenced Melvin’s sister, former state Sen. Jane Orie, to 2½ to 10 years in state prison for similarly using her staff from 2001 through 2009 in a bid for her state senate seat.
Melvin’s lawyer, Patrick Casey, did not immediately return calls.
Melvin on July 2 appealed the decision by Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning. She said in court papers that her appeal is made to the Supreme Court, rather than Superior Court as is usually the case, because of the need for an immediate ruling.
Her hearing has been postponed from July 9 to July 30.
Melvin, 56, of Marshall, is accused of illegally using her taxpayer-funded Superior Court staff to work on her 2003 and 2009 campaigns for a seat on the Supreme Court. She is facing nine counts including theft of services, conspiracy and official oppression.
In seeking an out-of-county judge for her hearing, Melvin cited a conflict of interest posed by the fact that the prosecution’s key witness, Lisa Sasinoski, is her former law clerk and the wife of Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski.
Manning last month sentenced Melvin’s sister, former state Sen. Jane Orie, to 2½ to 10 years in state prison for similarly using her staff from 2001 through 2009 in a bid for her state senate seat.
Melvin’s lawyer, Patrick Casey, did not immediately return calls.