Pa. Will Appeal Decision of Judge Based on Facebook Friendship

The state plans to appeal judge's decision not to recuse himself from DUI case against one of his Facebook friends

The state attorney general's office is planning to appeal a Pennsylvania judge's refusal to recuse himself from a drunken driving case against a state lawmaker.

Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Charles Hayden rejected prosecutors' request to remove himself from the case based on his Facebook friendship with Rep. Cherelle Parker, D-Philadelphia.

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

The Philadelphia Inquirer says spokesman Nils Frederiksen of the attorney general's office said Tuesday that the state would appeal Hayden's decision to Common Pleas Court.

Hayden earlier dismissed evidence from the April 30 arrest, questioning the testimony of two police officers.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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