Pennsylvania Magisterial Judge Maryesther Merlo faces judicial sanction for conduct

September 29, 2011

Pennsylvania: Lehigh County Magisterial District Judge Maryesther S. Merlo is being sanctioned for missing court 116 times. The Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline found that Merlo was habitually tardy or completely absent from her post most of the last two years she has served the bench. President Judge John W. Morris authored the opinion that found evidence of Merlo's misconduct and violation of the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges. Ironically Merlo sees multiple cases for students accused of truancy from school on a regular basis.

Justice Merlo's misconduct does not end with her truancy. Merlo has previously denied a woman her right under the Fifth Amendment not to testify at the advice of her lawyer, but Merlo ordered the attorney not to speak to the client and gave the woman jail time for contempt, a ruling which was later overturned. She also conducted a summary offense trial via video link with a defendant who was in prison, when the defendant objected and asserted his right to call witnesses and to present a videotape Merlo interrupted him numerous times saying, "Rover has a bone. Rover has a bone." Merlo also has a large backlog of court documents and has improperly entered default judgments in multiple cases.