Joan Orie Melvin Must Try Apology Again
Former state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin, left, leaves court with her husband Greg Melvin after she and her sister, Janine Orie, were sentenced for their February convictions on corruption in Orie Melvin’s election campaign, on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, in Pittsburgh. The sisters avoided prison time but were sentenced to house arrest for what a judge called crimes of “arrogance.” (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Remember when we said that former Justice Joan Orie Melvin’s court-ordered apology for her conviction — on charges she illegally used state workers for her political campaign — seemed less than sincere?
The court agrees.
Former state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin must write new apology letters to the state’s judges, an Allegheny County judge ruled Tuesday.
Common Pleas Judge Lester Nauhaus ruled that Melvin’s letters mailed last week were inadequate and that she must rewrite them.
“This is not an apology,” Nauhaus said. “After I approve the (new) letter, you will confirm with me that each judge has received a letter.”
He also rescinded the portion of her sentence requiring Melvin to work in a soup kitchen; instead Nauhaus has confined Melvin to her home, with the freedom to leave only during certain religious holidays.
We had previously compared Melvin to a petulant teen. Now we think Judge Nauhaus might well be suited to playing the part of the teen’s exasperated parent: “You’ll apologize, and you’ll do it like you mean it! Oh no? Well you’re GROUNDED young lady!” Corruption in this state can be so much fun sometimes.
