Joseph C. Waters, Jr.
Joseph C. Waters, Jr. was a judge on the Philadelphia Municipal Court in Pennsylvania. He resigned on September 23, 2014, amid federal charges of corruption (see story below).[1]
Education
Waters earned his B.S. and J.D. from Temple University.[2]
Career
Before serving on the municipal court, Waters worked as a Philadelphia police captain.[3]
Elections
2013
Waters ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Pennsylvania Superior Court. He was defeated by Common Pleas Judge Jack McVay, Jr. in the May 21st Democratic primary after receiving 44.6% of the vote.[4][3]
- See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2013
Bar Association rating
The Pennsylvania Bar Association rated Waters as "Recommended" for election.[5]
2011
Waters was re-elected to the municipal court in 2011.
- See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2011
Bar Association rating
- Waters was rated "recommended" by the Philadelphia Bar Association.[6]
Noteworthy events
Waters' admission of fraud reveals fake case used by FBI (2014)
Judge Waters pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud on September 24, 2014, an admission that was partially attributed to a fake court case the FBI used to test him. In 2012, court records show that David Khoury was arrested on a felony charge for the illegal possession of a pistol. He was released on bond and scheduled to appear before Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Dawn Segal. However, Khoury was not actually a criminal, or a real person at all. The identity and crime were created by the FBI to test whether Waters would be more loyal to his campaign donors or to the law.[7]
One of Waters' campaign donors, who had contributed $1,000 to the judge's campaign in a prior election, was in on the sting. Court documents stated that Waters had told the donor: "Anything I can do to help you or anybody that you're interested in, all you do is pick up the phone and call me."[8] So, the donor did just that. He contacted Waters regarding the Khoury case, describing the fictitious man as the cousin of a business associate. Waters then reached out to Judge Segal, asking her to help out Khoury, whom he described as a friend. Khoury's sentence was later reduced to a misdemeanor, though Segal had not been charged with any wrongdoing at the time of Waters' guilty plea.[7]
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Waters had first attracted the attention of the FBI due to his involvement in the civil case of a political ally.[8][9]
Update
On November 25, 2014, Waters was disbarred by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He was disbarred by consent and no opinion was issued by the court.[10]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Legal Intelligencer, "Phila. Judge Waters Resigns Amid Alleged Charges," September 24, 2014
- ↑ Marindale.com, "Judge Profile: Joseph C. Waters, Jr."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 CBS Local, "Pennsylvania Primary: One Statewide Race But Many Local Races," April 20, 2013
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Unofficial Election Returns - 2013 Municipal Primary, Superior Court"
- ↑ Pennsylvania Bar Association, "PBA Judicial Evaluation Commission Issues Ratings for Judicial Candidates, Provides Information for Voters," April 29, 2013
- ↑ The Legal Intelligencer Blog, "Phila. Bar Rates Four More 'Recommended'," April 29, 2011
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tech Times, "FBI snares allegedly corrupt judge with invented defendant and pretend arrest and court appearances," accessed November 11, 2015
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Philly.com, "Fictitious case to snare judge was elaborate," September 28, 2014
- ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "FBI Agents Invented Defendant to Catch Philadelphia Municipal Judge," September 28, 2014
- ↑ Law 360, "Corrupt Philly Municipal Court Judge Disbarred," November 26, 2014
