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  • PENNSYLVANIA JUDGE CHARGED WITH BRIBERY

    Posted on October 20th, 2011 zshapiro No comments

    Another Pennsylvania judge has been charged with bribery. 1 Judge Ross Cioppa of Bradford Hills has been charged with bribery for attempting to exchange favorable decision in landlord tenant matters to two women in exchange for sex. In addition to bribery the 70 year old judges is also charged with indecent assault and official oppression.

    In one matter he is alleged to have asked a female litigant, facing eviction to massage his genitals. When she refused he obtained her approval to take pictures of her in exchange for a favorable decision. In the second case, he is alleged to have made sexual advances towards a tenant in litigation with her landlord. When she refused he asked her out on a date and gave her his phone number. When she did not call him he ruled against her.

    Cioppa has been placed on paid leave pending the resolution of the criminal case. 2

    Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said “This is dealing with the integrity of the justice system, The victims are some of the most vulnerable people in the community.”
    Zappala will not have to look far for witnesses. At least two members of his staff made complaints about Cioppa. Former Assistant District Attorney Laurel Brandstetter claims that Cioppa once blocked the door to his office as she was leaving and said that she was not leaving the office until she agreed to go out to dinner with him. He eventually relented and allowed her to leave. While such conduct might not be criminal it certainly violates the judge’s code of ethics. Canon 1 Of the Pennsylvania Code of Judicial Ethics states judges should uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary. Canon 2 states judges should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all their activities. These canons either taken individually or in combination certainly prohibit a judge from dating an attorney who appears before the judge.

    While Cioppa is not to be prejudged certainly either attempting to get sexual favors from litigants or dating attorneys appearing before him brings the judiciary into disrepute and undermines the American system of justice.

    Notes:

    1. For prior posts on the bribery of Pennsylvania judges click here. ↩
    2. Interestingly Cioppa planned on retiring at the end of the year. If he puts off his retirement until the case is over he may end up getting more money while he is on paid leave than he would have gotten if he had retired. But if he is found guilty he may lose his state pension. ↩
    Bribery, Judges, Judicial misconduct , , , , Leave a Reply

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