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A Cumberland County judge has drawn the attention of the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board for his alleged "extremely loud" fits of anger in the courtroom.

The JCB announced charges Tuesday against Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Placey, who the board claimed "failed to conduct himself in a patient, dignified and courteous manner."

The board cited five cases in which the judge was accused of being intemperate, including one case in which Placey loomed over a testifying witness and told an attorney to get his "client under control or I'm going to tear him up on the stand," apparently because the witness was talking over the judge.

"He talks over me one more time I'll rule summarily against him," Placey said, according to the JCB's complaint.

The board said Placey left after the exchange and did not return, leaving the testimony unfinished. Placey later ruled against that party, but was overturned by the Superior Court, which called the judge's behavior "disconcerting."

In a second case, Commonwealth v. Moore, a disagreement between the judge and a prosecutor over whether a restitution request had been filed resulted in the judge shouting at the district attorney to get out of the courtroom, the JCB said.

"Move it. Quit talking. Lord have mercy. You show me enough disrespect all freaking day long," Placey said. "What is your problem? Get out of here. She does not walk back into this courtroom, sheriff."

In a custody case, the JCB said Placey acted impatiently with and expressed anger over the parties' inability to come to an agreement. He stormed off the bench, throwing his glasses and knocking over a cup in the process.

Another case saw Placey snap at an attorney and his client over a perceived lack of preparation, According to the JCB, Placey was "extremely loud" and told the litigants, "I'm going to be hostile with you now."

"If you can't be nice to each other, don't even bother taking the witness stand," Placey said. "And if you're not ready to go when we start, you're going to get chewed up and spat out by me."

Lastly, Placey had his law clerk ask an attorney to "cover" a criminal proceeding, but the attorney declined. According to the board, Placey approached the attorney a few minutes later, brought him to a small conference room, and shut the door. The JCB said Placey shouted at the attorney, loud enough for people outside the room to hear him.

A call to the Cumberland County's court administration seeking Placey was directed to the court administrator, who did not return a call seeking comment.