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Court of Judicial Discipline ---
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
COURT OF JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE
. . . .
IN RE:
.   :  
. Allan Clifford Berkhimer : No. 4 JD 04
. Magisterial District Judge In and For :  
. Magisterial District 47-3-06 :  
. Cambria County :  

ORDER

.AND NOW, this 28th day of June, 2005, after hearing on the issue of sanctions, the Court HEREBY ORDERS that Respondent, Allan Clifford Berkhimer, is hereby removed from his judicial office. The Court considers this to be the appropriate sanction upon the following considerations:

1.The nature of Respondent’s conduct described in the Opinion.
2.The Respondent’s lack of contrition or remorse.
3.The Respondent’s failure to cooperate with the Judicial Conduct Board in its investigation and prosecution of this case.
4.The fact that this is the second time in two years that this Court has found this Respondent has engaged in conduct that required the imposition of discipline. In the first case,1 this Court imposed the sanction of reprimand. In that case, Judge Leadbetter dissented and would have imposed a sanction of suspension for "at least" ninety days without pay.

This time, the Court concludes that removal is the appropriate sanction.

PER CURIAM

Sandler, J., files a dissenting opinion.

Sprague, J., did not participate in the consideration or disposition of this case.

 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
COURT OF JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE
. . . .
IN RE:
.   :  
. Allan Clifford Berkhimer : No. 4 JD 04
. Magisterial District Judge In and For :  
. Magisterial District 47-3-06 :  
. Cambria County :  

DISSENTING STATEMENT OF JUDGE SANDLER

I dissent from the decision of the majority to order the removal of Respondent from his judicial office. I do so because I believe that is a sanction too harsh in the circumstances of this case. While Respondent’s conduct was unquestionably rude, and even nasty, it was not criminal, and there was no implication made that his service to the citizens of his magisterial district was other than competent and conscientious. In my view, suspension for six months without pay would be an appropriate sanction.

Decision Overview

Full details of decision:
Per Curiam Opinion Order (April 14, 2005)
Opinion (Panepinto, J. - April 14, 2005)
Per Curiam Sanction Order (May 2, 2005)

List of all Court of Judicial Discipline decisions

1In re Berkhimer, 828 A.2d 19 (Pa.Ct.Jud.Disc. 2003).

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