Joan Orie Melvin leaving Allegheny Courthouse (Tribune-Review Photo)

A jury in Allegheny County today found Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice
Joan Orie Melvin guilty on six out of seven counts of corruption, reports the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

“Although the jury deadlocked on one charge of official oppression, Melvin, 56,
will likely be stripped of her seat on the state’s highest court, and will likely
lose her pension.

“The jury also found her sister and former staffer Janine Orie, 58, guilty on all
six of the counts she faced. The jury deliberated for 15 hours over four days.

“Melvin, of Marshall and Orie, of McCandless, were also accused of conspiring
to use the employees of a third sister, former state Sen. Jane Orie, for political
work. A judge in June sentenced Jane Orie to 2 1⁄2 to 10 years in prison on
similar charges.”