In re Placey

• Decision Date: 28 May 2021
• Docket Number: 2 JD 2020
• Parties: IN RE: Judge Thomas A. Placey Court of Common Pleas 9th Judicial District Cumberland County
• Court: Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline

IN RE: Judge Thomas A. Placey Court of Common Pleas 9^th Judicial District Cumberland County

2 JD 2020

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA COURT OF JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE

May 28, 2021

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