{"id":33302,"date":"2022-06-30T11:18:18","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T11:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/?p=33302"},"modified":"2022-06-30T11:18:18","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T11:18:18","slug":"police-urged-allegheny-county-da-courts-to-scrutinize-magistrate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/2022\/06\/30\/police-urged-allegheny-county-da-courts-to-scrutinize-magistrate\/","title":{"rendered":"Police urged Allegheny County DA, courts to scrutinize magistrate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>After a disagreement with Magisterial District Judge Mik Pappas over the timing of a warrant approval, the Allegheny County District Attorney\u2019s Office <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/triblive.com\/local\/das-office-investigating-district-judge-who-delayed-signing-arrest-warrant-in-uber-driver-homicide-case\/\" rel=\"noopener\">announced in February<\/a> that it was investigating him for unspecified \u201cadditional issues.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Within days, some local law enforcement professionals unhappy with the reform-minded Pappas \u2014 a critic of cash bail and racial disparities in the justice system \u2014 lobbied the DA and courts for action against him, according to internal emails obtained by PublicSource via a Right-To-Know request.<\/p>\n<p>Pappas was characterized as \u201cbiased\u201d and \u201cguilty\u201d in one email from a deputy sheriff, while a police chiefs group expressed \u201csupport\u201d for investigation of the judge, whose district comprises neighborhoods in Pittsburgh\u2019s East End.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><amp-img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas4.jpeg?resize=780%2C520&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Mik Pappas, a magisterial district judge, at his court in Highland Park. (Photo by Clare Sheedy\/PublicSource)\" class=\"wp-image-1282481 amp-wp-enforced-sizes i-amphtml-layout-intrinsic i-amphtml-layout-size-defined\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas4.jpeg?resize=400%2C267&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas4.jpeg?resize=1024%2C684&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas4.jpeg?resize=768%2C513&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas4.jpeg?resize=1200%2C801&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" layout=\"intrinsic\" disable-inline-width=\"\" i-amphtml-layout=\"intrinsic\"><i-amphtml-sizer slot=\"i-amphtml-svc\" class=\"i-amphtml-sizer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"i-amphtml-intrinsic-sizer\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyBoZWlnaHQ9IjUyMCIgd2lkdGg9Ijc4MCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiLz4=\"\/><\/i-amphtml-sizer><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas4.jpeg?resize=780%2C520&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Mik Pappas, a magisterial district judge, at his court in Highland Park. (Photo by Clare Sheedy\/PublicSource)\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas4.jpeg?resize=400%2C267&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas4.jpeg?resize=1024%2C684&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas4.jpeg?resize=768%2C513&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas4.jpeg?resize=1200%2C801&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/noscript><\/amp-img><figcaption>Magisterial District Judge Mik Pappas was characterized as \u201cbiased\u201d and \u201cguilty\u201d in one email from a deputy sheriff. (Photo by Clare Sheedy\/PublicSource)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s the courts, not police or the DA, that are responsible <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legis.state.pa.us\/cfdocs\/legis\/LI\/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&amp;ttl=00&amp;div=0&amp;chpt=5&amp;sctn=18&amp;subsctn=0\" rel=\"noopener\">under the Pennsylvania Constitution<\/a> for investigating judicial conduct. Police efforts to undermine Pappas raise concerns for some legal observers about separation of powers, and the extent to which law enforcement resources have been marshaled based on political disagreement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis has always been about my interpretation of the law and my viewpoints regarding the criminal legal system and my support for reform,\u201d Pappas, of Highland Park, told PublicSource. \u201cOne of the greatest dangers in the criminal legal system is the use of criminal process to go after, so to speak, people you disagree with in terms of politics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Presented by PublicSource with emails showing a deputy sheriff in his office had been surveilling Pappas\u2019 social media accounts, Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus launched an internal investigation. Kraus later revealed that the deputy in question had been placed on leave and would face disciplinary proceedings after the investigation determined he had \u201ccommitted policy violations.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\t\t\t\t\t<amp-analytics class=\"i-amphtml-layout-fixed i-amphtml-layout-size-defined\" style=\"width:1px;height:1px\" i-amphtml-layout=\"fixed\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<\/amp-analytics><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Saving the posts<\/h2>\n<p>Law enforcement opposition to Pappas emerged following <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wtae.com\/article\/uber-driver-death-homicide-arrest-warrant-district-judge-pappas-denies-ignoring-request\/39287749\" rel=\"noopener\">a dispute between the judge and District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.<\/a> The prosecutor alleged that the judge ignored a warrant waiting for his signature in a high-profile case involving the murder of an Uber driver. Pappas denied the claim, saying that the warrant never reached his desk and that he would have promptly signed it otherwise.<\/p>\n<p>In a February email composed a few days after the DA\u2019s announcement of an inquiry into Pappas, Deputy Sheriff Evan Townsend wrote to prosecutors in Zappala\u2019s office detailing his concerns about the magistrate and revealing that he had been monitoring and saving screenshots from Pappas\u2019 social media accounts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI \u2026 have saved all the posts and followed his activity for some time now,\u201d Townsend wrote. Copied on the email was Leo O\u2019Neill, commander of the sheriff\u2019s office courts division.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Townsend complained at length about the judicial philosophy of Pappas \u2014 elected to his seat in 2017 on <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/mikpappas.com\/vision\/\" rel=\"noopener\">a platform<\/a> calling for an end to mass incarceration \u2014 deeming him \u201cthe arm of these new and dangerous progressive movements.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\t\t\t\t\t<amp-analytics class=\"i-amphtml-layout-fixed i-amphtml-layout-size-defined\" style=\"width:1px;height:1px\" i-amphtml-layout=\"fixed\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<\/amp-analytics><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><amp-img width=\"780\" height=\"313\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?resize=780%2C313&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1282465 amp-wp-enforced-sizes i-amphtml-layout-intrinsic i-amphtml-layout-size-defined\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?resize=1024%2C411&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?resize=400%2C161&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?resize=768%2C308&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?resize=1200%2C482&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?w=1250&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" layout=\"intrinsic\" disable-inline-width=\"\" i-amphtml-layout=\"intrinsic\"><i-amphtml-sizer slot=\"i-amphtml-svc\" class=\"i-amphtml-sizer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"i-amphtml-intrinsic-sizer\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyBoZWlnaHQ9IjMxMyIgd2lkdGg9Ijc4MCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiLz4=\"\/><\/i-amphtml-sizer><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"780\" height=\"313\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?resize=780%2C313&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?resize=1024%2C411&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?resize=400%2C161&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?resize=768%2C308&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?resize=1200%2C482&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email.jpg?w=1250&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/noscript><\/amp-img><figcaption><em>Email dated Feb. 27 from Allegheny County Deputy Sheriff Evan Townsend to Deputy District Attorney Melissa Hong-Barco, Assistant District Attorney Grant Olson and Sheriff\u2019s Office Commander Leo O\u2019Neill.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Townsend did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Kraus characterized Townsend as acting outside official channels, saying there was \u201cno investigation regarding a District Judge authorized by the Sheriff\u2019s office.\u201d Mike Manko, a spokesman for the district attorney\u2019s office, said his Zappala \u201chas no desire to be involved in any political debate concerning such posts and our office has neither initiated nor participated in any review or investigation of social media posts.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><amp-img width=\"780\" height=\"862\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=780%2C862&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1282472 amp-wp-enforced-sizes i-amphtml-layout-intrinsic i-amphtml-layout-size-defined\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=927%2C1024&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 927w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=272%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 272w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=768%2C848&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=1200%2C1325&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=400%2C442&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?w=1320&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" layout=\"intrinsic\" disable-inline-width=\"\" i-amphtml-layout=\"intrinsic\"><i-amphtml-sizer slot=\"i-amphtml-svc\" class=\"i-amphtml-sizer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"i-amphtml-intrinsic-sizer\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyBoZWlnaHQ9Ijg2MiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc4MCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiLz4=\"\/><\/i-amphtml-sizer><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"780\" height=\"862\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=780%2C862&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=927%2C1024&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 927w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=272%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 272w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=768%2C848&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=1200%2C1325&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?resize=400%2C442&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email3.jpg?w=1320&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/noscript><\/amp-img><\/figure>\n<p>Townsend highlighted a Facebook friend of Pappas who volunteered on his 2017 campaign for magistrate and was later charged with arson in 2019 following an incident during protests over the shooting of Antwon Rose II. (Online court dockets indicate that none of her cases went before Pappas.) The friend did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Townsend attached more than a dozen screenshots from the friend\u2019s Facebook profile to the email for the DA\u2019s office, a few of which expressed support for violence against police officers. No posts from Pappas\u2019 own online profiles appeared in Townsend\u2019s screenshots, according to the Right-To-Know response from the DA\u2019s office, except for a retweet of a local news story on his conflicts with Zappala.<\/p>\n<p>Deputy District Attorney Melissa Hong-Barco responded to Townsend by inquiring as to whether he\u2019d contacted the state\u2019s judicial ethics board. Townsend said he had not, adding, \u201cWhatever you think or however I can help, let me know.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSounds good,\u201d Hong-Barco responded. \u201cI am looking through everything now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pappas called the tone of Townsend\u2019s email \u201cextreme\u201d and \u201cfanatical,\u201d faulting the DA\u2019s staffers for not pushing back against it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere should be no reason for the district attorney\u2019s office to engage with it \u2026 or enable it by claiming to be investigating it in some way, as though that would be something in their purview,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2>Backlash not only in Pittsburgh<\/h2>\n<p>The dispute has surfaced amid <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2022\/06\/13\/us\/justice-reform-boudin-recall-san-francisco.html\" rel=\"noopener\">clashes across the country<\/a> between a new wave of progressive jurists and prosecutors and those with a more traditional, \u201claw-and-order\u201d approach to criminal justice.<\/p>\n<p>In Philadelphia, District Attorney Larry Krasner, a former civil rights lawyer and critic of his predecessors, has faced <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/politics\/election\/philadelphia-police-union-fop-da-larry-krasner-carlos-vega-20210511.html\" rel=\"noopener\">fierce opposition<\/a> from the local police union and former prosecutors as well as <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/opinion\/editorials\/philadelphia-district-attorney-larry-krasner-impeachment-gop-20220624.html\" rel=\"noopener\">an impeachment effort<\/a> by Republican state representatives. In San Francisco, District Attorney Chesa Boudin was recalled in June after <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sfstandard.com\/criminal-justice\/war-sf-police-da-chesa-boudin-shootings-investigation\/\" rel=\"noopener\">what local media called \u201ca war\u201d<\/a> with the city\u2019s police department. Elsewhere, police unions have been major donors in judicial elections, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brennancenter.org\/sites\/default\/files\/publications\/Politics_of_Judicial_Elections_Final.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">according to the Brennan Center for Justice<\/a>, funding ads branding candidates \u201csoft\u201d on crime and criticizing them for past rulings.<\/p>\n<p>Locally, progressives are making unprecedented inroads in the region\u2019s justice system and have become <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pghcitypaper.com\/pittsburgh\/pittsburgh-politicians-call-on-da-stephen-zappala-to-be-removed-or-resign-from-office\/Content?oid=19583745\" rel=\"noopener\">increasingly vocal<\/a> in their criticism of Zappala. Coming off a string of recent victories, activist groups including the Alliance for Police Accountability and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uniteforpa.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">UNITE<\/a>, founded by rising left-wing star and Democratic congressional nominee Summer Lee, are already eying a challenge to the longtime district attorney in next year\u2019s election.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Pappas ran last year for the Court of Common Pleas as part of the UNITE-backed \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uniteforpa.com\/slateofeight\" rel=\"noopener\">Slate of Eight<\/a>\u201d candidates committed to criminal justice reform. While he was unsuccessful, five of the eight candidates did win seats, along with a handful of progressive magistrate candidates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Chiefs group and prosecutor weighed in<\/h2>\n<p>The same week that Townsend reached out to the DA\u2019s office, a lawyer for the Allegheny County Chiefs of Police Association drafted a letter to the president judge for the county\u2019s Court of Common Pleas, supporting an investigation of complaints regarding Pappas and offering the group\u2019s assistance. The lawyer, Michael Colarusso, circulated the draft among the association\u2019s members via email and was thanked in response by Tim Logue, deputy chief of the detective bureau in the DA\u2019s office, and Etna Police Chief Timothy Rodman.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><amp-img width=\"780\" height=\"156\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?resize=780%2C156&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1282466 amp-wp-enforced-sizes i-amphtml-layout-intrinsic i-amphtml-layout-size-defined\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?resize=1024%2C205&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?resize=400%2C80&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?resize=768%2C153&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?resize=1200%2C240&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?w=1372&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1372w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" layout=\"intrinsic\" disable-inline-width=\"\" i-amphtml-layout=\"intrinsic\"><i-amphtml-sizer slot=\"i-amphtml-svc\" class=\"i-amphtml-sizer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"i-amphtml-intrinsic-sizer\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyBoZWlnaHQ9IjE1NiIgd2lkdGg9Ijc4MCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiLz4=\"\/><\/i-amphtml-sizer><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"780\" height=\"156\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?resize=780%2C156&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?resize=1024%2C205&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?resize=400%2C80&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?resize=768%2C153&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?resize=1200%2C240&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email1.jpg?w=1372&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/noscript><\/amp-img><figcaption><em>Excerpt from email dated March 1 from attorney Michael J. Colarusso to members of the Allegheny County Chiefs of Police Association.<\/em><br \/><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><amp-img width=\"780\" height=\"851\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?resize=780%2C851&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1282473 amp-wp-enforced-sizes i-amphtml-layout-intrinsic i-amphtml-layout-size-defined\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?resize=939%2C1024&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 939w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?resize=275%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 275w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?resize=768%2C838&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?resize=400%2C436&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?w=1104&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1104w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" layout=\"intrinsic\" disable-inline-width=\"\" i-amphtml-layout=\"intrinsic\"><i-amphtml-sizer slot=\"i-amphtml-svc\" class=\"i-amphtml-sizer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"i-amphtml-intrinsic-sizer\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyBoZWlnaHQ9Ijg1MSIgd2lkdGg9Ijc4MCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiLz4=\"\/><\/i-amphtml-sizer><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"780\" height=\"851\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?resize=780%2C851&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?resize=939%2C1024&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 939w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?resize=275%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 275w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?resize=768%2C838&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?resize=400%2C436&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Letter.jpg?w=1104&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1104w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/noscript><\/amp-img><figcaption><em>Draft letter to President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark from the Allegheny County Chiefs of Police Association.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s unclear whether the draft letter to President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark was sent, received or acted upon. Courts spokesman Joseph Asturi declined to comment; Colarusso did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Sam Wiseman, a law professor at Penn State, said it is appropriate for police and prosecutors with a good-faith basis for believing a judge is acting unprofessionally to lobby court administrators.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the police reasonably think that the judge is not issuing warrants that should be issued or whatever else, who else is going to complain about it?\u201d Wiseman said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><amp-img width=\"780\" height=\"565\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=780%2C565&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"The office of district judge Mik Pappas in Highland Park. (Photo by Clare Sheedy\/PublicSource)\" class=\"wp-image-1282491 amp-wp-enforced-sizes i-amphtml-layout-intrinsic i-amphtml-layout-size-defined\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=1024%2C742&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=400%2C290&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=768%2C557&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=1536%2C1114&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=1200%2C870&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=1568%2C1137&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?w=1800&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" layout=\"intrinsic\" disable-inline-width=\"\" i-amphtml-layout=\"intrinsic\"><i-amphtml-sizer slot=\"i-amphtml-svc\" class=\"i-amphtml-sizer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"i-amphtml-intrinsic-sizer\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyBoZWlnaHQ9IjU2NSIgd2lkdGg9Ijc4MCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiLz4=\"\/><\/i-amphtml-sizer><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"780\" height=\"565\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=780%2C565&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"The office of district judge Mik Pappas in Highland Park. (Photo by Clare Sheedy\/PublicSource)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=1024%2C742&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=400%2C290&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=768%2C557&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=1536%2C1114&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=1200%2C870&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?resize=1568%2C1137&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pappas9.jpg?w=1800&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/noscript><\/amp-img><figcaption>The office of district judge Mik Pappas in Highland Park. (Photo by Clare Sheedy\/PublicSource)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>If, on the other hand, law enforcement officials are conducting their own investigations based purely on political disagreement, he added, \u201cthat\u2019s obviously deeply troubling for a democratic society.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pappas declined to comment on his subsequent discussions of the matter with court administrators.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The magistrate has similarly run afoul of rank-and-file prosecutors. In an email dated April 9, 2021, Deputy District Attorney Stephie Ramaley wrote to a group of colleagues complaining that Pappas had rejected warrants her office sought to search cellphones in several criminal cases, calling his decisions \u201ca recurring problem that the clerks at city court are also acknowledging.\u201d The warrants were later resubmitted to other judges, gaining approval, she added.<\/p>\n<p>Pappas told PublicSource that he had approved 70% of the search warrants submitted to him in 2021, including a number involving phones.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMore than anything, this correspondence reveals views and practices that should be deeply concerning to the general public,\u201d he said. Among those, he said, are \u201cthe presumption that judges should simply sign rather than review search warrant applications\u201d and \u201cthe total lack of oversight or formal judicial review that allows a detective to shop a warrant application around until they find an approving judge, again, without any readily available public record of this occurring.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><amp-img width=\"780\" height=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?resize=780%2C463&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1282470 amp-wp-enforced-sizes i-amphtml-layout-intrinsic i-amphtml-layout-size-defined\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?resize=1024%2C608&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?resize=400%2C237&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?resize=768%2C456&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?resize=1200%2C712&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?w=1274&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1274w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" layout=\"intrinsic\" disable-inline-width=\"\" i-amphtml-layout=\"intrinsic\"><i-amphtml-sizer slot=\"i-amphtml-svc\" class=\"i-amphtml-sizer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"i-amphtml-intrinsic-sizer\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyBoZWlnaHQ9IjQ2MyIgd2lkdGg9Ijc4MCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiLz4=\"\/><\/i-amphtml-sizer><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"780\" height=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?resize=780%2C463&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?resize=1024%2C608&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?resize=400%2C237&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?resize=768%2C456&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?resize=1200%2C712&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.publicsource.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PappasInvestigation_Email2.jpg?w=1274&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1274w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/noscript><\/amp-img><\/figure>\n<p>Tierra Bradford, a criminal justice policy advocate with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, said she worried the pressure and scrutiny on Pappas could dissuade \u201cthe types of people the community may want to see in office, and that is a huge problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt sends a really bad message to people who want to come in and make change in the community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p><em>J.T. O\u2019Toole is a software developer and writer. He can be reached at <\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.publicsource.org\/district-judge-mik-pappas-sheriff-chiefs-police-zappala-allegheny-county-pittsburgh\/mailto:calm.desk3730@fastmail.com\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>calm.desk3730@fastmail.com<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>This story was fact-checked by Sophia Levin.<\/em><\/p>\n<section id=\"block-9\" class=\"below-content widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-container-8 wp-block-group has-secondary-background-color has-background amp-wp-23320da\" data-amp-original-style=\"padding-top:35px;padding-right:35px;padding-bottom:35px;padding-left:35px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<h2>Do you feel more informed?<\/h2>\n<p data-amp-original-style=\"font-size:18.5px\" class=\"amp-wp-6223bde\">Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this \u2014 support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicsource.org\/district-judge-mik-pappas-sheriff-chiefs-police-zappala-allegheny-county-pittsburgh\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] After a disagreement with Magisterial District Judge Mik Pappas over the timing of a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-cj-system"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33302"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33302\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33303,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33302\/revisions\/33303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}