Opinion
2 JD 2020
05-28-2021
IN RE: Judge Thomas A. Placey Court of Common Pleas 9th Judicial District Cumberland County
JUDICIAL CONDUCT BOARDS MOTION TO WITHDRAW COUNTS 15 THROUGH 18
AND NOW, this 28th day of May, 2021, comes the Judicial Conduct Board of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Board) by and through undersigned counsel, and files this Motion to Withdraw Counts 15 through 18 of the Board Complaint pursuant to C.J.D.R.P. No. 502(F) and in support thereof, avers the following:
1. A Board Complaint was filed in this matter on June 9, 2020, at 2 JD 2020.
2. On May 3, 2021, the Board and Judge Placey filed Joint Stipulations of Fact in Lieu of Trial and a Waiver of Trial pursuant to C.J.D.R.P. No. 502(D)(1).
3. By letter dated May 27, 2021, Judge Placey notified Chief Justice Max Baer that he is retiring from judicial office effective June 1, 2021.
4. By letter dated May 27, 2021, Judge Placey notified Governor Tom Wolf that he is retiring from judicial office effective June 1, 2021.
5. Pursuant to C.J.D.R.P. No. 502(F), the Board "may file a motion to withdraw a Complaint or any of the Counts in a Complaint, which, in either case, shall be supported by good cause."
6. In consideration of all the facts and circumstances including Judge Placey's retirement from the bench and in the interests of justice and judicial economy, the Board moves to withdraw Counts 15 through 18 of the Board Complaint,
namely the charges that Judge Placey engaged in conduct which has brought the judicial office into disrepute in violation of Article V, §18(d)(1) of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
WHEREFORE, the Judicial Conduct Board respectfully requests that this Honorable Court grant this Motion to Withdraw Counts 15 through 18 of the Board Complaint pursuant to C.J.D.R.P. No. 502(F).
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD W. LONG
Chief Counsel DATE: May 28, 2021
By: /s/_________
MELISSA L. NORTON
Deputy Counsel
Pa. Supreme Court ID No. 46684
Judicial Conduct Board
Pennsylvania Judicial Center
601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 3500
Harrisburg, PA 17106
(717) 234-7911 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I certify that this filing complies with the provisions of the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania that require filing confidential information and documents differently than non-confidential information and documents.
Submitted by: Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania
Signature: __________
Name: MELISSA L. NORTON
Deputy Counsel
Attorney No.: 46684 PROOF OF SERVICE
In compliance with Rule 122 of the Court of Judicial Discipline Rules of Procedure, on the date below, a copy of the Judicial Conduct Board's Motion to Withdraw Counts 15 through 18 was sent by first class mail and email to Heidi Eakin, Esquire, counsel to Judge Thomas A. Placey at the following address:
Heidi F. Eakin, Esquire
2807 Market Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Email_heidieakin@gmail.com
Respectfully submitted,
By: /s/_________
MELISSA L. NORTON
Deputy Counsel
Pa. Supreme Court ID No. 46684
Judicial Conduct Board
Pennsylvania Judicial Center
601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 3500
P.O. Box 62525
Harrisburg, PA 17106
(717) 234-7911 DATE: __________, 2021