[Epoch Times] The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 5 declined to take up an appeal from a former judge in Pennsylvania who was suspended after praising Democrats and criticizing Republicans on social media.While a judge, he posted positive Facebook posts about various Democrats, including former President Joe Biden, and criticism of Republicans and conservative organizations. He was reported by a fellow judge, and the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania held a trial. The board said the judge violated judicial rules, including by undermining public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, and the Court of Judicial Discipline of Pennsylvania backed that determination. He was suspended without pay.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court in January sided with the judicial board. "Under the balancing test we adopt today, if a sitting judge speaks outside of his or her official duties on a matter of public concern, then courts must balance the Commonwealth’s interest in protecting the efficiency of the administration of justice, including the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, against the judge’s interest in making the statement," the court’s opinion said.