Mark V. Tranquilli
Mark V. Tranquilli is a former judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was elected to the court on November 5, 2013.[1] In August 2020, Tranquilli was suspended without pay and charged with six counts of judicial misconduct.[2][3] He resigned on November 18 of the same year.[4] Click here to learn more.
2013 election
Tranquilli ran for election to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.
Primary: He received 15.7% of the vote in the Republican primary on May 21, 2013. He cross-filed as a Democrat and also won that primary with 13.9% of the vote.
General: He was elected in the general election on November 5, 2013, with 21.3% of the vote. Eleanor Bush, Paul E. Cozza, PJ Murray, Jennifer Satler and William F. Ward were also on the ballot, competing for four open seats.
Education
Tranquilli earned his undergraduate degree from Allegheny College in 1989 and his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1992.[7]
Career
- 2013-2020: Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
- 2005-2013: Homicide Unit Supervisor, Allegheny County District Attorney's Office
- 2000-2005: Homicide Unit, Allegheny County District Attorney's Office
- 1998-2000: Robbery Unit, Allegheny County District Attorney's Office
- 1994-1998: Prosecutor, Allegheny County District Attorney's Office[7]
Noteworthy events
Administrative duties reassignment and resignation (2020)
On February 6, 2020, President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark reassigned Tranquilli to administrative duties.[8] The reassignment followed a complaint filed by defense attorney Joe Otte that alleged Tranquilli made racially biased remarks about a juror in a case over which the judge was presiding.[9] The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board recommended a suspension for Tranquilli and charged him with six counts of judicial misconduct on August 12, 2020.[2][10]
On August 26, 2020, the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline suspended Tranquilli without pay.[3] It also announced that his misconduct trial would begin on October 5, 2020.[3] On September 28, 2020, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Tranquilli's trial had been moved to November 19, 2020.[11] Tranquilli resigned on November 18, 2020.[4]
See also
- Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas
- Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2013
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Allegheny County, "Election Night Final," November 5, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 TribLIVE, "Board recommends suspension of Allegheny County judge for alleged racial comments," August 12, 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 AP, "Judge suspended without pay, faces trial on ethics charges," August 27, 2020
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 AP, "Pennsylvania judge accused of making racist remarks resigns," November 18, 2020
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State: Unofficial Candidate Listing
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Official Election Returns - 2013 Municipal Primary, Court of Common Pleas"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mark V. Tranquilli: Campaign Website - About
- ↑ Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Temporary Assignment Of Honorable Mark V. Tranquilli To Administrative Duties, February 6, 2020
- ↑ Trib Live, "Allegheny County judge barred from hearing cases after alleged racist remark about juror," February 6, 2020
- ↑ KDKA 2, "Allegheny County Judge Mark Tranquilli Petitions Court To Overturn His Suspension," September 8, 2020
- ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Conduct trial for Judge Tranquilli moved to November," September 28, 2020
Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania