NEW CASTLE —
It’s no secret that some elected officials think they are above the law.
Or that they are somehow special because of the positions they hold and that they can operate free of citizen oversight or the potential for criminal charges.
Pennsylvanians saw plenty of that in connection with the Bonusgate scandal, where state lawmakers were exposed using public funds for personal and political purposes. They also paid staff with taxpayer dollars to perform activities that promoted their re-election efforts.
In other words, taxpayers were making campaign contributions without knowing about it or approving it.
But while the Bonusgate scandal was the most widespread and notorious example of this sort of conduct in Pennsylvania, it wasn’t alone. Right now, another scandal is playing itself out with the criminal case of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin.
Melvin — who is on leave from the court — stands accused of using staff to assist with her election efforts in 2003 and 2009. The case against her is linked to one where her sister, former state Sen. Jane Orie, was convicted of doing essentially the same thing.
Last week, Melvin and her attorneys attempted to have the charges against her dismissed. That’s not unusual in a criminal case. However, some of the arguments Melvin employed were.
She attempted to argue that because of her position as a Supreme Court justice, she could not be tried in the criminal system.
Instead, her lawyers claimed that it was up to the judiciary to determine whether Melvin’s conduct was inappropriate.
Pennsylvania does have a system where the conduct of judges and attorneys can be reviewed judicially. But this is not a criminal process. The harshest penalties Melvin could face in this fashion would be loss of her post and disbarment.
In her criminal case, jail time is a possibility.
Fortunately, Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Lester G. Nauhaus, who heard Melvin’s pleadings last week, was quick to reject them. He noted — quite rightly — that the allegations against her were akin to common criminal activity, not something directly associated with her actions on the bench.
“Let me get this right,” an obviously incredulous Nauhaus was quoted as saying by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Because Joan Orie Melvin is a Supreme Court justice, she’s above the law?”
We’re pleased that Nauhaus didn’t have much difficulty understanding the absurdity of this position. We wish all elected officials could keep that concept in mind.
Editorials
Our Opinon: Joan Orie Melvin can’t hide behind court robes
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Our Opinion: Lousy voter turnout is a missed opportunity
Tuesday’s primary in Lawrence County had its share of winners and losers. But — based on the numbers — the biggest winner has to be voter apathy. Countywide, voter turnout in the primary was a whopping 17.1 percent. In case you missed it, our use of the term “whopping” is sarcasm.
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Our Opinion: Pennsylvania’s primary system is controlled by parties
Should Pennsylvania’s primaries be open to independent voters? That’s an interesting question and one we have explored in the past on this page.
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Our Opinion: State audit says city school district failed to collect from non-residents
Audit information about non-resident students who didn’t pay tuition at New Castle raises more questions than it answers. At least so far. We expect more details when the Pennsylvania auditor general’s office completes its report and the New Castle school district provides its response.
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Our Opinion: Make the most of your power to vote by casting ballot tomorrow
So what kind of turnout will there be for tomorrow’s primary? Recent history suggests somewhere between low and lousy. This year’s elections are devoted to local races, and there are few major ones being contested in the primary.
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Our Opinion: Privatization of county jail is worthy of examination
Generally speaking, we support government efforts to seek more efficient ways to provide essential services. So we have no problem with the decision by the Lawrence County commissioners to solicit proposals for the private operation of the county jail.
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Our Opinion: We endorse candidates for New Castle board
The New Castle school district is often a study in contrasts. There are complaints about the district on everything from taxes to nepotism, from test scores to ethical slights. Yet at the same time, plenty of students within the district excel. It’s a tribute to the hard work of those students, their families and the educators who support them.
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Our Opinion: You should be frightened, outraged by IRS abuse of power
When people talk about government posing a threat to citizens, a common topic these days is unmanned drones. But a more credible threat may be the Internal Revenue Service. This agency, responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing related rules, has the ability to make life miserable for the average individual.
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Our Opinion: Our endorsements for City Council race
The city of New Castle needs help. Financially distressed and operating under Pennsylvania’s Act 47, New Castle must find ways to reverse its population loss and fiscal challenges.
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Our Opinion: Court frowns on gerrymandering, but only slightly
Pennsylvania legislators have received the green light to put their own political interests ahead of yours. That’s a key point in the latest Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on legislative apportionment in the commonwealth.
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Our Opinion: Study says distracted driving deaths are under reported
Suppose you operated a piece of heavy machinery at your job. And suppose it’s machinery that moves quickly with little effort. What would happen if you decided to take one hand off that equipment — while it was still in motion — and instead focused your attention on a telephone call?
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