Chesco magistrate sues over ticket-fixing suspension

A longtime Chester County magistrate judge claims that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court violated his constitutional rights when it suspended him without pay because he was charged with fixing tickets at Philadelphia Traffic Court.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Philadelphia, District Judge Mark A. Bruno describes himself as "an extremely hardworking" and respected jurist who has been unable to pay bills or find work since being removed Feb. 1, when federal prosecutors announced charges against him and eight other former or current Traffic Court judges.

Bruno contends that the state's highest court violated his right to due process by suspending him without a hearing, and questioned the justices' authority to do so.

He has asked U.S. District Judge Anita Brody to issue an injunction declaring the suspension illegal and to reinstate his salary and benefits, at least until a trial or state judicial proceedings.

"Judge Bruno was deprived of his pay and benefits, which he has a right to, pursuant to his election as a district judge," said the suit, filed by lawyer Samuel Stretton.

It was unclear whether Supreme Court members had seen the suit or would respond. Representatives from their office could not be reached late Thursday.

Bruno has served as a district judge in West Chester since winning the seat in 1998. In 2011, voters approved him for a new six-year term.

According to the lawsuit, he was asked about once a year to hear Traffic Court cases for judges who were away on training.

The indictment contends that members of that bench routinely dismissed or downgraded tickets and fines for friends and the politically connected. The indictment cites secretly recorded conversations in which Bruno and another former judge, Fortunato N. Perri Sr., allegedly discuss two tickets to be fixed.

Perri on Wednesday became the third former judge to plead guilty in the case.

Bruno has pleaded not guilty and is free on bail pending a trial. According to his lawsuit, that trial might not occur until early next year.

Bruno's suit questioned the Supreme Court's authority to suspend him, noting that disciplinary matters for lawyers typically first go before the Judicial Conduct Board.

He said he never heard from that board. Instead, he said, he got his suspension notice in the mail the week after his indictment.