The state Court of Judicial Discipline has removed a Lehigh County magisterial district judge from the bench after its finding in August that she violated the Pennsylvania Constitution and the 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 court only issued an order and not an opinion Monday as to why former Magisterial District Judge Maryesther S. Merlo should be sanctioned with removal from the bench and a ban on ever serving in judicial office again.
