Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin has been suspended for allegedly violating state ethics. Eakin was said to have sent and received some offensive and lewd emails which got him involved in the Porngate scandal.
According to Philly Voice, The Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline ordered the immediate suspension of Eakin. This is with pay plus medical benefits. A hearing followed after wherein the state Supreme Court justice confessed that he indeed sent and received the controversial emails that had lewd references to judicial employees.
These vulgar references contained photos of jokes mocking women, minorities and others as well as nude women. These have "tainted the Pennsylvania judiciary in the eyes of the public." Therefore, for the judicial ethics tribunal of the state, Eakin's continued presence on the bench is seen to damage the trust of the people in the judiciary that led to the decision to suspend the Supreme Court justice, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
"The integrity of the Pennsylvania judiciary has been and continues to be subject to disrespect," ruled the court's three-judge panel. Moreover, the suspension order stated that despite the emails not being intended for the general public's eye, they already became infamous and the subject of several articles of publications.
As for Eakin's attorney William Costopoulos, he shared his dismay in the ruling. However, he and his client are respecting the process and will prepare for the trial. They just hope that the trial happens soon to close the matter.
This case is recalled to have started when Attorney General Kathleen Kane first discovered the Porngate emails. This was during her review of the handling of her predecessor of Jerry Sandusky's child sexual assault investigation.
The state's Judicial Conduct Board (JCB) then filed a complaint which alleged Eakin to be violating rules against judges to be included in improper acts that raise questions about their fairness, Penn Live said. In addition, the board claimed that Eakin violated some state Constitution sections that require judges to follow those rules.
The pre-trial conference will be on January 21, 2016, based on the court's schedule. Until then, Eakin will continue receiving his annual salary of $203,409 together with benefits.
