Stephanie A. Domitrovich
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Stephanie A. Domitrovich is a judge on the Erie County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania.[1] Domitrovich was first elected to the court in 1989. She was retained in 1999 and 2009. Her current term expires in 2019.[2]
Education
Domitrovich received her undergraduate degree from Carlow College in 1976 and her J.D. from Duquesne University in 1979.[3] She also has a Ph.D. in philosophy in judicial studies from the University of Nevada at Reno and the National Judicial College.[2]
Career
- 1989-Present: Judge, Erie County Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania
- 1983-1989: Assistant county solicitor [2]
Noteworthy events
Ethics complaint (2014-2016)
In July 2014, the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board filed a complaint against Judge Domitrovich, charging her with violating the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Pennsylvania Code of Judicial Conduct.[4] Specifically, she was accused of displaying behavior that was "impatient, undignified and discourteous to the individuals who appeared before her" and exhibiting "[y]elling and other aggressive behavior (finger pointing, sarcasm, storming off the bench)" during several of her cases. In her interactions with another court employee, Domitrovich was accused of "non-private, bullying and inappropriate confrontation." She was also charged with engaging in improper communications with her husband, an attorney, regarding her cases, and misleading the Judicial Conduct Board during its investigation.[5]
On August 8, 2014, Domitrovich filed a response to the Judicial Conduct Board's complaint. Documents attached with the response showed that the Judicial Conduct Board, prior to filing its complaint, had given Domitrovich the option of dropping the case in exchange for her resignation. Domitrovich concluded, in her defense, that the charges were "based on the subjective, standardless perceptions and exaggerations of biased critics and detractors of a Judge who has overcome obstacles and barriers in the legal profession to become a highly accomplished Jurist."[4]
On September 29, 2014, the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline decided not to suspend Domitrovich. She was to remain on the bench while awaiting her ethics trial.[6]
In August 2016, the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline unanimously dismissed the charges against the judge. Domitrovich had completed the Judicial Diversion Program, in which judges are mentored to improve their behavior. "The Respondent has assured the Court, through her agreement and her conduct, that her future judicial performance will result in diligent and respectful judicial services to the Commonwealth," read the court's decision.[7]
Recent news
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See also
External links
- Pennsylvania Courts, "Erie County Court of Common Pleas"
- Erie County Government, "Judges"
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Erie County Common Pleas judge faces ethics charges," July 7, 2014
Footnotes
- ↑ The United Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "Common Pleas Judges," accessed August 6, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Erie County, Pennsylvania, "Biographies And Contact Information For Members Of The Bench," accessed July 1, 2013
- ↑ Martindale, "Judge Profile: Stephanie Domitrovich," accessed July 1, 2013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Go Erie.com, "Lawyer: Judge refused to leave," August 9, 2014
- ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Court of Judicial Discipline, "In re: Stephanie Domitrovich, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas," accessed August 11, 2014 (dead link)
- ↑ Your Erie.com, "Court of Judicial Discipline Decides Not to Suspend Judge Domitrovich," September 29, 2014
- ↑ GoErie.com, "Disciplinary court dismisses case against Erie's Judge Domitrovich," September 1, 2016
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
