The Sentence is in: Orie Melvin Gets House Arrest

Joan Orie Melvin 2Former state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin was sentenced to 3 years of house arrest on Tuesday.

She must also write a letter of apology to every judge in Pennsylvania, KDKA reports. She must subsequently have 2 years of probation.

She was convicted in February on 6 of 7 counts related to misuse of official resources for campaign purposes.

Her sister and co-conspirator Janine Orie was sentenced to 1 year of house arrest and 2 of probation. The two may leave their homes only to attend church.

It’s a relatively lighter sentence than that received by their sister, former state Senator Jane Orie (R-Allegheny). She was convicted on similar grounds and is serving 2 and a half to 10 years in prison.

Gov. Tom Corbett has less than 90 days to name Orie Melvin’s replacement on the Supreme Court. The nominee will require a two-thirds vote in the state Senate, meaning Corbett will have to win over at least 7 Democrats.

In the meantime, the Court remain at a tie between its 3 Democratic and 3 Republican members.

Orie Melvin was elected in 2009. Her successor will serve for roughly two years; the vacancy will be filled during the 2015 election.

4 Responses

  1. What bunch of bullshit. Will be ok for me to rip people off and say I am sorry. Can Mike Veon just write sorry sorry sorry letters also.

  2. So you can steal taxpayer dollars and only get house arrest for 1 year. What a slap in the face to the hard working taxpayer. What a joke,

  3. Not even a thanks for catching your prior error where you said three dems as opposed to the now correctly stated 7?

  4. Please check your math…34 votes in the Senate is required…there are only 27 Rs…Governor needs to find 7 Ds…good luck with that!

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