Last year, just before the Luzerne County Courthouse scandal broke, the Court of Judicial Discipline removed Lokuta from the bench for multiple violations of Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which requires the impartial and diligent performance of judicial duties. The evidence cited in the decision painted a picture of a judge who lacked judicial temperament — including being discourteous, impatient and badgering to court staff, attorneys, litigants and witnesses and being late for court — and did not deserve to wear the robes.
PMC wrote an editorial arguing that the Lokuta sanction made sense and questioning why other judges found guilty of violations of the judicial canons received lesser sanctions. In short, we have supported imposition of the ultimate sanction — removal from the bench — upon the finding by the Court of Judicial Discipline of serious conduct unbecoming a judge.
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