Ex-justice loses appeal but apology terms altered
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Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A state appeals court has upheld the conviction of a former Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice on corruption charges but has softened the terms of her mandatory apology.
A Superior Court panel Thursday said Joan Orie Melvin still must write apologies to every state judge but doesn’t have to do it on a photograph of herself in handcuffs as first ordered.
The court said the photo requirement was an “unorthodox gimmick” designed to “shame and humiliate” the ex-judge.
Melvin was convicted of theft, conspiracy and other charges in 2013 for using her court staff and other public employees to aid her campaign for state Supreme Court.
Her sentence includes three years of house arrest, a fine and work in a soup kitchen.