The Judicial Conduct Board filed a formal complaint against former district justice Jules Melograne, based upon his conviction for conspiracy to violate civil rights, a felony. The conduct underlying the felony conviction involved the respondent’s efforts, in his capacity as a district justice, to ensure that certain persons, who had challenged traffic citation decisions at the district justice level, would obtain dismissals in their appeals to the Statutory Appeals Unit of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

Former District Justice Melograne and the Judicial Conduct Board submitted stipulations of fact in lieu of trial, under C.J.D.R.P. No. 503(D)(1), through which the respondent admitted that he had been convicted of a felony. Based upon the stipulations, the Court concluded that the respondent had violated Article V, §18(d)(1) of the Pennsylvania Constitution, a provision that makes the conviction of a felony a basis for the imposition of sanctions.

Following a sanction hearing, the Court (1) removed the respondent from office and held him ineligible for judicial office in the future, and (2) disbarred the respondent from the bar of this Commonwealth.

Full details of decision:

Opinion (Sylvester - May 17, 2000)

Per Curiam Order (May 17, 2000)

Per Curiam Order (September 29, 2000)

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