CHESTNUTHILL TWP., Pa. - The Monroe County Republican Party is calling for a District Court Judge to resign, citing a conflict of interest.
Monroe County Magistral District Judge Colleen Mancuso is married to newly-elected District Attorney Michael Mancuso. Both are Democrats.
The Monroe County Republican Committee is calling Judge Mancuso to step down.
"She's going to serve her own interests instead of the peoples' interests and continue to accept a full-time salary." said Tom Whitehead, former Chairman of the Monroe County Republican Committee.
69 News Reporter Rick Holmes spoke with Judge Mancuso outside of her court in Chestnuthill Township Tuesday afternoon. She told 69 News she has no plans to resign because she is doing her job.
Back on December 28th, the Monroe County Magisterill President Judge, Margherita Patti-Worthington, issued an order that Judge Mancuso could no longer process search warrants, arrest warrants, or preside over preliminary arraignments brought before her court, which covers Chestnuthill, Polk, Eldred, and Ross Townships.
A Senior Judge is now assigned to some of the work. Mancuso's husband was a former assistant DA in the county for 20 years.
"(My husband) represents the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And it's not as if he's representing a litigant, because he doesn't represent the defendants. He represents the commonwealth of Pennsylvania." said Judge Mancuso.
Whitehead says taxpayers aren't being served, with two judges being paid to do the jobs of one.
"Other magistrates or potentially senior judges will be brought in, and potentially paid on top of what she is being paid to do the job," said Whitehead.
Judge Mancuso says she is still handling civil suits and things like tenant-landlord cases... also saying the ethics board instituted a waiver, explaining to criminal defendants and their attorneys that there is a potential conflict, and if they want to proceed with the case, they have to sign a waiver. She says only one has refused.
"I'm following the law. I'm not going to do anything that benefits or would hurt anybody in the case, just like before and they've signed the waivers." said Judge Mancuso.
Judge Mancuso's husband, Monroe County District Attorney Michael Mancuso, did not return our requests for comment.
With Judge Mancuso declining to step down, Whitehead says the only option would be impeachment in the state Legislature, initiated by the House with a trial in the Senate.
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