The Court of Judicial Discipline’s decision Thursday to deny all parties in Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin’s disciplinary case the opportunity to present a proposed resolution left ethics attorneys wondering what led the court to change its mind on mediation. Earlier this month, the court had appointed attorney Richard Sprague to mediate the case upon a request from the parties for help reaching a settlement.
By preventing Eakin and the Judicial Conduct Board, which has charged the suspended justice with four ethics violations, from sharing their agreement with the court, Judge Jack Panella put the case back on track for trial beginning March 29 in Philadelphia.
