3 Sisters Accused in Pa. Political Corruption Scheme

Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin illegally used her state-funded staff in her campaigns for a seat on the state's highest court in a scheme that also involved the judge's sister, a senator awaiting sentencing on similar charges, prosecutors said Friday.

Orie Melvin "actively condoned and even promoted'' campaign-related activity by state-paid workers while she was a Superior Court judge, according to a grand jury presentment, which described a "tale of corruption'' involving her two sisters -- state Sen. Jane Orie and Janine Orie. Jane Orie was convicted in March of 14 similar criminal counts.

Orie Melvin pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon to nine criminal counts. Melvin said she intends to vigorously defend herself against what she says are politically motivated charges.

The high court relieved Orie Melvin of all judicial and administrative duties Friday as a result of the charges. The court also ordered Orie Melvin's Pittsburgh office sealed to secure records, files and equipment that are property of the court.

A letter from Orie Melvin's attorney to Chief Justice Ronald Castille denies any wrongdoing by the judge. The attorney didn't immediately return a call from the Associated Press seeking comment Friday.

The grand jury said Orie Melvin and her staff used personal email accounts to shield the actual email addresses that generated the messages, hiding the fact that political activities were being handled by the judicial staffers.

According to the presentment, Orie Melvin used her state-paid telephone line to solicit support from hundreds of Republican committee members around the state.

Lisa Sasinoski, a former law clerk, also testified that Janine Orie -- working as an aide to the judge -- ordered her to work the polls for Orie Melvin on the 2003 general election day. Sasinoski said that after the election she approached Orie Melvin and told her the illegal campaign activities needed to cease. The next day, Sasinoski said she was fired.

The grand jury found evidence that "Superior Court personnel, court-provided facilities, and court-supplied office equipment'' were used in both the 2003 and 2009 elections.

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts said this is apparently only the second time a sitting justice has faced criminal charges. Justice Rolf Larsen was accused in 1993 of using the names of court employees to fraudulently obtain prescription drugs. He was immediately removed from the bench by judicial order when the charges were filed and was convicted the following year.

A spokesman for the courts said Friday that Orie Melvin will remain on the payroll with full benefits. Her salary is $195,000.

Republican Gov. Tom Corbett said that while the charges against Melvin will be resolved in court, "her arrest should serve as a reminder to public officials that no one is above the law.''

Orie Melvin's sisters Jane and Janine Orie initially went on trial together early last year, but their cases were split after the judge overseeing the case declared a mistrial, saying one document was so obviously fake that "even Ray Charles'' could see it. An examination of the exhibits by a U.S. Secret Service document expert resulted in forgery, perjury and evidence tampering charges in her next trial.

Sen. Jane Orie is scheduled to be sentenced next month. Her attorney has said in court filings that she would resign before that.

Janine Orie faces charges in connection with each sister. Now suspended from her job as an aide to Orie Melvin, Janine Orie is charged with directing the taxpayer-funded staffs of both sisters to perform campaign work.

Janine Orie's attorney, Jim DePasquale, told The Associated Press on Friday that he expects prosecutors to try to try his client with Orie Melvin but that he will oppose that.

Orie Melvin started her judicial career as a municipal judge in 1985, four years after getting her law degree. She was elected to a 10-year term on the high court that runs through 2019.

AOPC spokesman Art Heinz said it is possible the justices might bring in a seventh member on a substitute, fill-in basis, but that decision hasn't been made.

The absence of Orie Melvin, a Republican, leaves the court evenly divided between the parties, with review of the politically charged legislative reapportionment matter potentially returning before the court. The Supreme Court in January by a 4-3 vote threw out the last set of district maps and the reapportionment commission has not yet had a final vote on a new version.

The grand jury investigation began in 2009 when an intern in Sen. Orie's office complained to the district attorney's office that she'd seen the lawmaker's staff doing campaign work for Orie Melvin just days before she was elected to the high court.