Verdict Reached in Trial of PA Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin and Her Sister
The justice is accused of allowing her state-paid staff to perform campaign work.
An Allegheny County Common Pleas Court jury Thursday convicted suspended State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin on all but one count of using her former Superior Court staff, and the legislative staff of her sister, former state Sen. Jane Orie, to run campaigns for the Supreme Court in 2003 and 2009, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. The jury was hung on one count of official oppression against the suspended justice. Orie Melvin's sister, Janine Orie, was found guilty on all counts, according to the PG. She worked as an administrative assistant to the justice. After the verdicts were announced, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. issued the following statement: “I would first like to thank the members of …
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