Mistrial declared in high profile case

March 14, 2011

Pennsylvania: On Thursday, March 3, Allegheny County Court Judge Jeffrey A. Manning declared a mistrial in the corruption case against State Senator Jane Orie. The mistrial was declared after the court discovered that Orie's defense had submitted forged evidence. Judge Manning began criticizing the defense after prosecutors produced evidence that certain signatures had been forged on documents submitted by the defense. Orie's attorney, William Costopoulos, denied there being any evidence that someone on the defense was responsible for the forgery, but Judge Manning was unconvinced. Manning told Costopoulos that he could not say exactly who did it, but said to him, "You should look to your own house for the culprit." Manning went further to say "I don't know who among the parties for the defense has done this. It's deceitful, dishonest, despicable, and it's a crime." The mistrial ruling, which came three weeks after the trial's beginning, means that the Orie sisters will face another trial, this time without the forged evidence.