Jul 20, 2015 3 min read

Paul Pozonsky had power over people’s lives.

For almost 15 years, Pozonsky was a judge on the Washington County Court of Common Pleas, where he had the power to determine whether men and women would have to forfeit their freedom for crimes they had been accused of committing, and how long that freedom would be surrendered. Sometimes, the loss of freedom would also be accompanied by punishing fines that drained bank accounts and limited opportunities for the defendants.

That’s not a power to be taken lightly.

But, as we all know now, Pozonsky was abusing the power to which he had been entrusted. While sitting on the bench, he was “sampling the goods,” using the cocaine that was being brought to his courtroom to feed his own addiction. We now know that he would take the drugs to his office, where he kept them in a locked vault, and replace them with baking soda or other substances. Pozonsky would then pass judgment on the individuals who were accused of possessing or selling the drugs.

Paul Pozonsky abused his power and made a mockery of the judicial process.

Last week, Pozonsky received something of a comeuppance. He was sentenced to 30 days to 23 months in jail after striking a plea deal earlier this year that reduced the theft and obstruction-of-justice charges against him to misdemeanors. He will also lose his pension, which would have yielded close to $100,000 per year, and health benefits.

There can be no doubt that Pozonsky has suffered and will continue to do so. His reputation has been shattered, he will almost certainly never practice law again and, when he was sentenced, Pozonsky said his marriage and his relationship with his children had been ruined. “It’s taken away the only job I’ve ever loved. I stand before you a broken man,” he explained before Senior Judge Daniel Howsare.

On the other hand, in the words of Howsare, “He knew he had a drug problem. He knew counseling was available, but instead he decided to use evidence to satisfy his drug use. That’s difficult to overlook.”

Within hours after being committed to Washington County jail, however, Pozonsky was out on a work-release program. He has a job with Tri-State Restoration Services, and will only have to report to jail at night, and probably not for long. After that, he will be on probation for two years.

Many of our readers believe Pozonsky got off easy. We are inclined to agree with them.

Although there is a much-needed debate happening across the country right now regarding the severity of sentences being handed down to nonviolent drug offenders, and whether putting people behind bars is the best way to handle individuals grappling with addiction, Pozonsky deserved a stronger punishment for abusing drugs and, more importantly, the prestige of his post. By doing so, he not only ruined his own good name, but also deepened cynicism about the judicial system, and whether an individual can be treated fairly within it, particularly if they are not among the well-heeled or well-connected.

That could well be Pozonsky’s most egregious crime.