Hello welcome to this JACPA Ethics Alert blog which will discuss the Pennsylvania District Judge who was recently arrested on felony criminal charges and placed on paid administrative leave from the bench for allegedly dismissing her own traffic tickets.
According to media reports, the criminal charges result from District Judge Kelly S. Ballentine’s dismissal last year of three tickets issued to her by a city police officer, according to a charging affidavit. The judge presided over part of the City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She was arrested and arraigned on February 27, 2012 and released on $25,000 unsecured bail. The judge, who is also a lawyer, was elected as district judge in 2006.
The judge was charged with dismissing three tickets issued to her by police, two of which were for parking illegally and another was for an vehicle registration offense. She allegedly dismissed a parking ticket and an expired registration ticket in December 2010 and a parking ticket in January 2011. The total fines for the three tickets $268.50, which was never paid and the handwriting dismissing the tickets was the judge’s according to the charging affidavit.
As always, if you have any questions about this Ethics Alert or need assistance, analysis, and guidance regarding these or any other ethics, risk management, or other issues, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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