Posted on 02/27/2004 7:56:28 PM PST by ellen_rometsch
For months he said it couldn't be done. Then he did it.
Joseph Massa Jr., chief counsel for the state Judicial Conduct Board, completely reversed course Wednesday when he filed formal charges against Monroe County Judge Mark Pazuhanich.
Since Jan. 5, the day Pazuhanich was privately sworn in by a notary, Massa maintained that the Judicial Conduct Board had no authority to discipline Pazuhanich because the charges against him were misdemeanors, not felonies.
Massa said repeatedly that the Judicial Conduct Board could not take action until the criminal charges against Pazuhanich were resolved, and that Pazuhanich could not be suspended without pay.
On Thursday, Massa filed papers in the state Court of Judicial Discipline, charging Pazuhanich with two counts of violating the state Constitution and the Code of Judicial Conduct. He also petitioned the court to immediately suspend Pazuhanich without pay.
Some of Massa's past comments:
On Jan. 5: "Our procedure is to allow the charges to run their course. To be fair to the prosecution and the defense, we are not going to interfere."
On Jan. 9: "The public is outraged, people have chosen sides, but as we speak those charges are still pending. He may or may not be convicted. These are heinous allegations, but why is Kobe Bryant still playing basketball? He's still innocent."
On Jan. 22: "We are prohibited from filing for an interim suspension without pay. You can only do that with felonies. As heinous and despicable as these charges are, our Constitution says our board cannot petition for a judge to be removed or suspended (without a felony charge)."
When asked Thursday why he changed his mind and filed charges, Massa said, "I don't want to get into that. It was either a mistake or it was misunderstood. ... I was very limited by what I could say. That's the most I can say. I appreciate the citizens in Monroe County. They are extremely upset and I personally empathize."
Although it's hard to know what exactly led to Massa's reversal, public pressure likely played a role.
(Excerpt) Read more at poconorecord.com ...
Does this lawyer know his job? Bet he knows how to cash his check.
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