Traffic Court judge chided, not ousted, over donations
HARRISBURG - A Philadelphia Traffic Court judge was given a reprimand and probation yesterday by the state Court of Judicial Discipline for illegally collecting campaign donations in 2007 and suggesting that those who gave money would get favorable treatment in his court.
HARRISBURG - A Philadelphia Traffic Court judge was given a reprimand and probation yesterday by the state Court of Judicial Discipline for illegally collecting campaign donations in 2007 and suggesting that those who gave money would get favorable treatment in his court.
The court last month found Willie Singletary guilty of violating various rules of judicial conduct for which he could have faced suspension or removal.
But while President Judge John L. Musmanno said the court did "not want to see that kind of conduct" by members of the judiciary, he acknowledged that Singletary did not have legal training and was not on the bench when the incident occurred.
Singletary, 27, who was elected to the six-year term in 2007, apologized to the court, saying he "seriously erred" in seeking the campaign contributions from motorcyclists at a rally.
Joseph A. Massa, chief counsel for the Judicial Conduct Board, which filed the charges against Singletary, argued that Singletary knew what he was saying when he asked for contributions and told campaign supporters that they would "need me in Traffic Court."
After the ruling, he said the sanctions were "the domain of the court," but added, "We felt it was a very serious matter."
Massa continued: "The candidate's remarks were a sleazy pitch for support. It was a quid pro quo."
Defense attorney John Summers played a video of Singletary campaigning at the April 2007 biker rally at Malcolm X Park in Philadelphia. "There's going to be a basket going around because I'm running for Traffic Court judge, right, and I need some money," Singletary is heard saying.
Candidates for magisterial district judge are forbidden from soliciting campaign donations under judicial conduct rules.
He also told the group, "Now, you all want me to get there, you're all going to need my hook-up, right?"
Singletary, who is a pastor at a West Philadelphia church that he founded, told the court he did not intend to give anyone better treatment because of a campaign contribution. "I was in preacher mode," he said. "I do admit I chose a poor choice of words."
Before being elected, Singletary amassed dozens of traffic violations that led to the suspension of his driver's license until 2011. He also racked up $11,000 in traffic-related fines. Singletary told the court yesterday that he had paid the fines and that his license suspension is under appeal before the state Supreme Court.
The period of Singletary's probation for the judicial conduct violations under the supervision of the Judicial Conduct Board has not been determined.
Singletary is the second Philadelphia judge punished by the Court of Judicial Discipline this week. On Monday, the court suspended Municipal Court Judge James A. DeLeon without pay for three months for issuing a bogus "stay-away" order on behalf of a social acquaintance.
The court also charged Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Willis W. Berry on Monday with bringing "disrepute" to the court system by using court staff to run his real estate business. If affirmed at trial, the charges could cost Berry his judgeship.
View the video of Singletary campaigning at the biker rally at