Measure drafted for impeachment of judge

PITTSBURGH - A legislator has drafted a resolution that would be the first step in the possible impeachment of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin following her conviction on six counts of corruption, the lawmaker said Friday.

Rep. Glenn Grell (R., Cumberland) said he would confer with fellow lawmakers Monday about whether and when to file the resolution, which would be unnecessary if Melvin resigned.

If approved by the House, the resolution would give a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee authority to take testimony and issue subpoenas as part of an investigation. Articles of impeachment could result and, if approved by the House, be forwarded to the Senate for a trial.

The House is scheduled to reconvene March 11, following a three-week break for state budget hearings.

Melvin, 56, was convicted Thursday in Allegheny County of using her former Superior Court staff, and the state-paid staff of her sister, former Republican State Sen. Jane Orie, to work on Melvin's 2003 and 2009 campaigns for the Supreme Court. Also convicted was Melvin's aide and sister, Janine Orie, 58.

Jane Orie, the former lawmaker, was not on trial. She is serving 21/2 to 10 years in prison for misusing state-funded staffers on her own campaigns, though she was acquitted of ordering them to work on Melvin's campaigns, too, when she stood trial and was convicted last year.

Now that she been convicted, Melvin has 30 days to respond to charges of misconduct filed with the disciplinary court by the state's Judicial Conduct Board. If the Court of Judicial Discipline determines Melvin has violated professional conduct rules or the state constitution, or brought disrepute on the judiciary, it can then mete out discipline ranging from a reprimand to removal from office.

Melvin also faces possible disbarment by the Disciplinary Board of the state Supreme Court, though that's a separate proceeding.

If Melvin is removed from office, Gov. Corbett would have 90 days to appoint a replacement, said Ron Ruman, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State. The appointee must be approved by two-thirds of the state Senate.