Legal News

Delco Magisterial District Judge Under Investigation

By Brian Harris

By Gina Passarella
Of the Legal Staff

Delaware County Magisterial District Judge David J. Murphy, an 18-year veteran of the court, is the subject of a criminal investigation by the Delaware County District Attorney?s Office, the office confirmed.

Erica Parham, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney?s Office, couldn?t comment as to the details of the investigation but said allegations were referred to the office last week. No charges have been filed at this time.

A woman who answered the phone at the Aston District Court House, where Murphy presides, said he was not there and that no one there was interested in commenting.

Murphy?s district covers Aston Township, the Borough of Chester Heights and parts of Upper Chichester Township. He is due for a retention election in 2010.

Ward Williams, administrator of the county?s Administrative Office for District Judges, said Murphy was placed on paid administrative leave on Aug. 26. Senior District Judge Kenneth Miller is handling Murphy?s cases in the meantime.

Williams said the decision to place a judge on administrative leave is made at the district level and the order was issued by Delaware County Common Pleas Court President Judge Joseph P. Cronin Jr.

Both the Delaware County Daily Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer are reporting the investigation may have to do with concerns over signatures on election petitions, but the District Attorney?s Office would not confirm those reports.

Murphy, a 1983 graduate of Temple University School of Law, started out his political career as a Democrat but unexpectedly switched to the Republican Party in 1994, according to a report today in the Daily Times.

The special investigations unit in the District Attorney?s Office is handling the investigation.

Full post as published by The Legal Intelligencer Blog on September 01, 2009 (boomark / email).