PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin submitted her resignation today, a month after she was convicted on public corruption charges.
Ms. Orie Melvin is due to be sentenced May 7 and in a letter to Gov. Tom Corbett said “it is with deep regret and a broken heart” that she tendered her resignation, effective May 1. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve the people of this Commonwealth for the past 28 years, and I am deeply saddened that I am not able to fulfill my commission.”
Gov. Corbett can appoint an interim justice to fill her spot on the seven-member court, with the approval of two-thirds of the state Senate. The appointee would serve through January 2016. The court is currently split 3-3 between Republicans and Democrats and Ms. Orie Melvin is a Republican… (more)
