In Re: Michael J. Sullivan, of: Sullivan, M. ( 2014 )


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  •                    IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
    EASTERN DISTRICT
    IN RE: MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN,                 : No. 128 EM 2014
    TRAFFIC COURT JUDGE,                        :
    PHILADELPHIA COUNTY                         :
    :
    :
    PETITION OF: MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN            :
    ORDER
    PER CURIAM
    AND NOW, this 18th day of November, 2014, in response to the “Application for
    Relief,” treated as a King’s Bench Petition, the February 1, 2013 order of this Court,
    entered at 398 Judicial Administration Docket, is VACATED in its entirety.
    The order of February 1, 2013, suspended Petitioner from his judicial office
    without pay predicated on a federal indictment charging Petitioner with various crimes
    allegedly committed in connection with that office.      The instant vacatur recognizes
    Petitioner’s subsequent acquittal of all such charges.
    As acknowledged by Petitioner, the Court of Judicial Discipline (“CJD”) entered a
    separate order suspending Petitioner without pay. The present order should not be
    construed as bearing in any way upon the propriety or longevity of the CJD’s order or
    upon any further proceedings or action which may be appropriate within the scheme of
    judicial discipline prescribed in Article V, Section 18 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
    See In re Bruno, 
    2014 WL 4915942
    , *40 (Pa. 2014) (“[t]he constitutional powers of the
    Supreme Court and the [Court of Judicial Discipline], and the legal predicates for their
    respective actions, are distinct and may comfortably operate separately”).
    Mr. Chief Justice Castille files a dissenting statement.
    Mr. Justice Stevens dissents, as he would not vacate the February 1, 2013 order.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 128 EM 2014

Judges: Per Curiam

Filed Date: 11/18/2014

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 11/18/2014