A former staff attorney at the Pennsylvania Superior Court cannot sue the court's president judge in his personal capacity, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. District Chief Judge Juan Sanchez of Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled Wednesday that former staff lawyer Francis Giordano's attempt to sue President Judge Jack Panella came too late and would have unfairly prejudiced the state court judge. However, Panella, who was elected as leader of the 16-judge court in 2019, was not let out of the suit completely, as he is still named in the case in his official capacity, along with court administrator Geoffrey Moulton and executive court administrator Christopher Nace.