HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s judicial ethics court is fining a former state Supreme Court justice $50,000—but he gets to keep his pension. This happens one week after the judge resigned for his role in a sweeping scandal over lewd and objectionable emails exchanged in the state’s law enforcement circles. The court said Thursday that former Justice Michael Eakin jeopardized the judiciary’s reputation by trading emails containing “imagery of sexism, racism and bigotry.” The unanimous six-judge opinion expresses “disgust” over the case.
He keeps his six-figure pension because the court notes Eakin’s behavior wasn’t criminal and the punishment would have been more severe if he hadn’t resigned and accepted responsibility. The emails were uncovered in an investigation by state Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s office. She has since been charged criminally with leaking grand jury material and lying about it, charges she says arose from her taking on the old boys club of law enforcement.
