Opinion
1 JD 2021
02-16-2021
IN RE: Judge Sonya M. McKnight Magisterial District Judge Magisterial District 12-2-04 12th Judicial District Dauphin County
ANSWER TO FORMAL COMPLAINT
AND NOW, this 16th day of February , 2021, comes Heidi F. Eakin, Attorney for Respondent, Sonya McKnight and submits the following answer to the Complaint filed on February 8, 2021.
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
1. Admitted. 2. Admitted. 3. Respondent has no direct knowledge to either admit or deny this allegation. 4. It's admitted the vehicle stop occurred within Judge McKnight's jurisdiction. 5. Respondent has no direct knowledge to either admit or deny this allegation. 6. Admitted. 7. No answer required. 8. Respondent has no direct knowledge to either admit or deny this allegation. 9. Respondent has no direct knowledge to either or admit or deny this allegation. 10. Admitted. 11. Admitted. 12. Admitted insofar as Judge McKnight came to the scene of the vehicle stop. 13. Admitted insofar as Judge McKnight asked "What was going on?" regarding the vehicle stop. 14. Admitted. 15. Respondent has no direct knowledge to either admit or deny this allegation. 16. Respondent has no direct knowledge to either admit or deny this allegation. 17. Denied. 18. Admitted in part, denied in part. Judge McKnight admits she contacted Commissioner Carter prior to arriving at the vehicle stop. It is specifically denied, she inquired of the Officers whether Commissioner Carter was on duty. 19. Denied. 20. Admitted. 21. Admitted that Judge McKnight received from the officers, Baltimore's car keys and approximately $37. 22. Admitted. 23. Respondent has no direct knowledge to either admit or deny this allegation. 24. Respondent has no direct knowledge to either admit or deny this allegation. 25. Respondent has no direct knowledge to either admit or deny this allegation. 26. Admitted. 27. Admitted. 28. Admitted 29. Admitted the allegation correctly recites the probable cause articulated in the Criminal Complaint 30. Admitted. 31. Admitted. 32. Judge McKnight, believed Attorney Brian Perry had made the necessary notifications to comply with Rule 1921. 33. Judge McKnight, believed Attorney Brian Perry had made the necessary notifications to comply with Rule 1921.
Respectfully submitted,
Heidi F. Eakin, Esquire
VERIFICATION
I, Sonya McKnight, verify that I have reviewed the attached answer to the Complaint and adopt it as true and accurate.
/s/_________ CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Heidi F. Eakin, Esquire, attorney for Defendant, do hereby certify that a true and correct copy of this ANSWER TO COMPLAINT served upon the following individuals be delivering same to the following person at the address below on the below date: Melissa L. Norton
Deputy Counsel
Pa. Supreme Court ID 46684
Judicial Conduct Board
Pennsylvania Judicial Center
Harrisburg, PA 17106 Court of Judicial Discipline
601 Commonwealth Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17120
BY:
Heidi F. Eakin, Esquire Date: 2-16-21 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I hereby certify that this filing complies with the provisions of Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania: Case Records of the Appellate and Trial Courts that requires filing confidential information and documents differently than non-confidential information and documents.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/_________
Heidi F. Eakin
Attorney for Defendant
2807 Market Street
Suite 1
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Sup. Ct. #43893
717-602-0581
heidieakin@gmail.com