Penn. Supreme Court Suspends Justice Over Pornographic Emails

Justices of the The Pennsylvania Supreme Court pose for photographs, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, at Philadelphia's historic Old City Hall, where the U.S. Supreme Court held court from 1791 to 1800. The Pennsylvania Su... Justices of the The Pennsylvania Supreme Court pose for photographs, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, at Philadelphia's historic Old City Hall, where the U.S. Supreme Court held court from 1791 to 1800. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is hearing cases at Old City Hall for the first time in more than 200 years. Justices from top left: Seamus P. McCaffery, Max Baer, Debra McCloskey Todd, Joan Orie Melvin. From lower left: Thomas G. Saylor, Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille, and J. Michael Eakin, (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) MORE LESS
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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday suspended Justice Seamus McCaffery (pictured top left) for using his personal email to send pornographic images to state employees, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

McCaffery admitted that he sent sexually explicit emails with a private account. Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille released an account of over 200 emails sent or received by McCaffery containing inappropriate materials, according to the Inquirer.

The revelations that McCaffery sent these emails follow the resignation of two state officials for sending pornographic emails to other state employees. Attorney General Kathleen Kane in September identified eight individuals who had worked in the Attorney General’s office that exchanged explicit emails.

Chief Justice Castille called for a special prosecutor to investigate the case, but for now the Judicial Conduct Board will decide whether charges will be filed against McCaffery. The board has 30 days to make a determination.

In the meantime, McCaffery is suspended with pay.

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Notable Replies

  1. Oh my goodness, what’s the world coming to?

  2. You need a more recent photo of the PA Supreme Court. That old picture includes Republican Joan Orie Melvin, who is now a convicted felon and no longer on the state supreme court.

  3. …and yet so many other judges do some seriously fucked up shit and are revered.

    It’s not a fair world, just like my daddy said.

  4. Avatar for meri meri says:

    Just remember, these are the best and the brightest in the state. Only they can determine The True Law.

  5. Avatar for jw1 jw1 says:

    TLQ-- you and I are usually in agreement-- and you may yet agree with me here.

    If this man who stands in judgement of others’ freedom and fiscal well-being can take it for granted that he’s above everyone else-- in thinking he can send porn over government IT resources?

    Then I submit this is the tip of an iceberg of further transgressions-- that we may never see.
    Explicit images are fine by me. Everybody has their tastes-- and are welcome to them.
    But the attitude of privilege-- and of being untouchable-- is where the real transgressions lay.

    Someone who lacks good judgement-- who rules over the lives of everyday folks?
    Is likely to not have been fair in all cases.

    Kick his butt to the curb PA. Without pension.
    It’s the only way to let folks know the playing field isn’t tilted.

    jw1

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