Sen. Williams calls for Justice Eakin's resignation

State Sen. Anthony H. Williams called Tuesday for the resignation of a state Supreme Court justice embroiled in the porn email controversy.

The Philadelphia Democrat said the removal of J. Michael Eakin was an important first step toward restoring public confidence in the integrity of the state's judiciary.

"His existence on the bench is a major distraction for the highest court in Pennsylvania," Williams said in an interview after making similar comments at a news conference in Harrisburg.

Eakin, a Republican, could not be reached for comment. He was the recipient of 45 crude emails and the sender of three. The emails he sent did not involve nudity.

The emails included jokes mocking gays, African Americans, Latinos, and battered women.

Williams, the second-highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate, questioned Eakin's ability to be impartial in deciding matters involving women or minorities, and urged Gov. Wolf to convene a panel to investigate the Eakin emails.

As part of an overall reform of the judiciary, Williams recommended that the state constitution be amended to lessen the influence of the Supreme Court over the Judicial Conduct Board.

bmoran@phillynews.com

215-854-5983@RobertMoran215