Bill Text: PA SB1274 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: In Judicial Conduct Board, providing for review of complaints, for criminal investigations and for target letters.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-15 - Referred to JUDICIARY [SB1274 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB1274-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  1763

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

1274

Session of

2010

  

  

INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, COSTA, RAFFERTY, ARGALL, WAUGH, ORIE, TARTAGLIONE, ERICKSON, BOSCOLA, BAKER, O'PAKE, MUSTO, FARNESE, STACK, EARLL, DINNIMAN AND WASHINGTON, MARCH 15, 2010

  

  

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MARCH 15, 2010  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the

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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Judicial Conduct

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Board, providing for review of complaints, for criminal

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investigations and for target letters.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

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Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:

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§ 2107.  Review of complaints.

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(a)  Review and determination.--The Judicial Conduct Board

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shall review every complaint filed against a judicial officer

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that addresses potential ethical violations and shall make a

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determination whether further action should be taken on the

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complaint.

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(b)  Chief counsel.--A complaint shall not be dismissed

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solely upon the review of and a decision by the chief counsel of

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the board.

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§ 2108.  Criminal investigations.

 


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(a)  Deferral prohibited.--The Judicial Conduct Board shall

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not defer the active investigation of a complaint against a

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judicial officer that addresses potential ethical violations

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because of a pending grand jury investigation or other law

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enforcement investigation arising from the same conduct.

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(b)  Notification of prosecutor.--If the board is aware that

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there is a pending criminal investigation, the board shall

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notify the appropriate prosecuting attorney that the board is

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investigating the conduct as well.

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§ 2109.  Target letters.

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(a)  Duty of judicial officer.--A judicial officer who

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receives a letter from a prosecuting attorney indicating that

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the judicial officer is the subject of a grand jury

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investigation or other law enforcement investigation shall

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within ten days notify the Judicial Conduct Board in writing

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that the letter was received and shall attach a copy of the

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letter to the notification.

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(b)  Duty of board.--Upon receipt of notification under

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subsection (a), the board shall initiate an investigation of

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potential ethical violations arising from the same conduct as

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the criminal investigation.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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