Municipal Court Judge Dawn A. Segal, who acknowledges having improper discussions about three court cases pending before her, wants to return to the bench as soon as possible.
In a Nov. 18 filing, attorneys for Segal, who is an open lesbian, said she’s been suspended without pay for about nine months, and it’s time for her to resume her judicial duties.
The attorneys noted that several Pennsylvania judges who engaged in behavior much worse than Segal’s were merely reprimanded or suspended without pay for a few months.
On Nov. 21, Segal attended a sanctions hearing in Harrisburg held by the state Court of Judicial Discipline.
She spoke for about 45 minutes, expressing her remorse and vowing to be a better judge in the future. She also asked the court to review her entire five years on the bench, which many colleagues have praised.
In 2011-12, Segal discussed three cases pending before her with then-Municipal Court Judge Joseph C. Waters.
Segal maintains that Waters didn’t influence her judicial rulings in the cases. However, she acknowledges that she should have recused herself from the cases and promptly reported her discussions to authorities.
Segal faces discipline ranging from a reprimand to permanent removal from the bench.
Segal’s Nov. 18 court filing compares her conduct with other Pennsylvania judges who engaged in improper conduct. For example, a judge who accepted football-game tickets from a litigant seeking favorable treatment was sanctioned with a seven-day suspension without pay.
Another judge ran a private real-estate business out of his judicial office for 14 years, yet only received a four-month suspension without pay. Another judge was publicly intoxicated and assaulted a local police official, receiving a nine-month suspension without pay, according to the filing.
There’s no deadline for the Court of Judicial Discipline to issue its decision on Segal’s discipline, but a decision is expected in the near future.
If Segal disagrees with the court’s decision, she’s permitted to appeal to the state Supreme Court.
Waters, 63, was convicted of fraud for his misconduct and spent almost two years in federal prison. He was released on Nov. 25, according to prison records.
Although Segal has been suspended without pay since February, she continues to receive workplace health benefits, according to court records.