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Pocono News Section
Pay Raise Alleged Result Of Deal By Former Judge
Pay Raise Alleged Result Of Deal By Former Judge - Monday, May 19, 2008 at 7:32PM EST
Reported by: Joe Holden
Monday, May 19, 2008 @ 07:32pm EST
HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY- The Pennsylvania League of Women Voters through a lawsuit filed Monday alleges former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Cappy brokered a deal with unnamed lead lawmakers. That deal reportedly involved the Supreme Court's vote to legalize gaming in exchange for a pay increase.
The state Supreme Court upheld the law that legalized gaming, issuing an opinion in June 2005. The challenge had been raised by the League of Women Voters. Two weeks later, state lawmakers pushed through a controversial late-night legislative and judicial pay raise. Monday's suit alleges the League's Constitutional rights were violated and as a result, is asking for "just and proper" relief.
The lawsuit suggests that in May 2006, the League apparently discovered "that a current member of the Pa. Senate alleged that the result of litigation in which the League was a plaintiff was traded or used as leverage by one or more members of the Supreme Court of Pa. to secure a substantial pay raise for members of the Pa. Unified Judicial System as part of secret negotiations by and between defendant Ralph J. Cappy and leaders of the Pa. General Assembly."
Allegations in the suit describe suspected acts by at least one member of the court to have been attempts of "blackmail." It was allegedly suggested members of a state caucus instead "call the court's bluff."
The suit goes on to indicate allegations have surfaced since the mid-'90s "that justices of the Pa. Supreme Court have begun to engage in brass-knuckles negotiations with legislative leaders to secure desired legislative outcomes."
Pa. Senator Robert Mellow spoke to the I-Team Monday night and called the allegations just that "allegations." The veteran Democratic leader from Lackawanna County said "I've known Ralph Cappy. I was questioned by him and every judge I know personally (about impending 2005 legislative pay raise). I was never lobbied. We wouldn't participate. It's blatantly illegal."
The I-Team contacted other area lawmakers about this story. Rep. Todd Eachus declined comment saying he hadn't seen the lawsuit. Other phone calls to lawmakers' Harrisburg offices were not returned.
An attorney for the Pa. League of Women Voters wouldn't comment beyond what was contained in the lawsuit.
Phone messages left for Cappy at the Pittsburgh office of a nationwide law firm where he is now employed were not returned.
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