Pa. to appeal dismissal of lawmaker's charge

The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office will appeal the dismissal of a drunken-driving case against State Rep. Cherelle L. Parker, after the judge refused to recuse himself.

Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Charles Hayden on Monday rejected the attorney general's request that he remove himself from the case based on his Facebook friendship with Parker.

Hayden wrote in his order that the state had failed to present evidence of "bias, prejudice, or unfairness" that resulted from the Facebook connection.

Spokesman Nils Frederiksen of the Attorney General's Office said Tuesday that the state would appeal Hayden's decision to Common Pleas Court.

Hayden this month dismissed the evidence against Parker from her April 30 arrest on a drunken-driving charge, questioning the testimony of two police officers. - Inquirer staff