Court Opinion

ID: 9737243
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:19:56.546248+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:23:57.558387
License: Public Domain

*501Justice SAYLOR,
concurring and dissenting.
A pivotal premise of the majority’s analysis in this case is its assertion that “[i]t is beyond cavil that the Court of Judicial Discipline has jurisdiction over the general subject matter presented here, namely, determining whether an individual engaged in judicial misconduct.” Majority Opinion at 1167. Assuming such a foundation, the majority’s conclusions flow readily. But the constitutional provisions enabling the Court of Judicial Discipline address the lodging of charges, not against individuals generally, but against “a justice, judge or justice of the peace.” Pa. Const. Art. V, § 18(a)(9), (b)(5).1 Accordingly, jurisdiction is not facially implicated with respect to persons, such as Appellant, who are former judicial officers when proceedings are commenced.2
By contrast, in Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Jepsen, 567 Pa. 459, 787 A.2d 420 (2002), the sole issue was whether this Court retained the ability to direct a particular result, disbarment on consent with respect to an attorney who was also a sitting district justice, where the Constitution also conferred jurisdiction and disciplinary authority upon the Court of Judicial Discipline. Significantly, there was no question in Jepsen that this Court would have possessed disciplinary jurisdiction and authority had the attorney not also been a judicial officer. The salient issue was whether the Constitutional provisions *502enabling the Court of Judicial Discipline divested this Court of disbarment authority. See id. at 462, 787 A.2d at 422.
There is no similar question of overlapping jurisdiction and potential divestiture presented here. Rather, this case concerns the scope of the jurisdiction conferred upon the Court of Judicial Discipline in the first instance. Despite the facial import of Article V, Section 18, the majority determines that jurisdiction over former judicial officers is necessary to effectuate the policy aims of Article V, Section 18. While the majority’s articulation of policy is sound, I cannot agree that it requires the departure sanctioned. Rather, in my view, it would be preferable to respect the express means of effectuating policy that have been selected by the General Assembly and approved by the voting public, including the discemable, incorporated limitations. Accordingly, as Appellant had resigned from his judicial office prior to the initiation of charges against him in the Court of Judicial Discipline, I would hold that jurisdiction was not present.
I agree with the majority, however, that the Court of Judicial Discipline lacks disbarment authority, even where jurisdiction is present. In addition to the reasons presented by the majority, I note that Section 18(b)(5)’s catch-all phrase, “or other discipline as authorized by this section,” is qualified under the doctrine of ejusdem generis by the preceding examples, all of which are directed to a judicial officer’s function as such, and not his or her status as an attorney.
Justice NIGRO joins this concurring and dissenting opinion.

. Although I recognize that jurisdictional boundaries may be drawn with reference to the underlying conduct at issue, see, e.g., Riedel v. Human Relations Comm'n of Reading, 559 Pa. 34, 40, 739 A.2d 121, 124 (1999), the plain text of Article V, Section 18, clarifies that the class of controversies brought into view by that provision is defined, as well, by the condition that the accused be a justice, judge, or justice of the peace.

. I would contrast a situation in which a formal complaint has been filed prior to resignation or removal, in which case jurisdiction can reasonably be viewed as having attached. See, e.g., In re Larsen, 717 A.2d 39, 43 (Pa.Ct.Jud.Disc.1998), vacated in part, 812 A.2d 640 (Pa. Spec.Trib.2002); cf. Judicial Inquiry and Review Bd. v. Snyder, 514 Pa. 142, 151, 523 A.2d 294, 299 (1987) (concluding that, once disciplinary jurisdiction attaches in this Court, the matter is not rendered moot by the judge's subsequent failed quest for retention); In re Glancey, 518 Pa. 276, 282-83, 542 A.2d 1350, 1353-54 (1988) (same as to a judge who resigns during the matter’s pendency).