A Lehigh County magisterial district judge violated the Pennsylvania Constitution and standard of conduct for MDJs by telling her staff that she would not be coming to court 116 days over a two-year period and, when she did come to court, habitually arriving tardily, the state Court of Judicial Discipline ruled this week.
In an opinion written by President Judge John W. Morris, the court found that, by clear and convincing evidence, Magisterial District Judge Maryesther S. Merlo violated Article V of the state constitution for conduct that brings the judicial office into disrepute and by failing to perform the duties of her office; and that Merlo violated the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges.
