In re McKnight

• Decision Date: 16 February 2021
• Docket Number: 1 JD 2021
• Parties: IN RE: Judge Sonya M. McKnight Magisterial District Judge Magisterial District 12-2-04 12th Judicial District Dauphin County
• Court: Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline

IN RE: Judge Sonya M. McKnight Magisterial District Judge

Magisterial District 12-2-04 12^th Judicial District Dauphin County

1 JD 2021

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA COURT OF JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE

RECEIVED: February 23, 2021

February 16, 2021

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