Philly judge ejected from the bench after refusing to stop making 'political' Facebook posts

A Philadelphia judge — and former Democratic state representative — was barred from the bench on Monday for refusing to stop posting political statements on Facebook.

Pennsylvania’s Court of Judicial Discipline found in May that Common Pleas Court Judge Mark B. Cohen had violated the Code of Judicial Conduct by posting numerous Facebook comments that skewered Republicans and praised Democratic politicians or left-leaning causes — even after his superiors ordered him to stop.

The state’s judicial code calls for judges to maintain an “absence of bias or prejudice” and abstain from political organizing or endorsements.

The board’s Monday opinion suspends Cohen, 75, without pay for the remainder of his term, which expires at year’s end. He won’t be eligible to run again due to the state’s age cap for judges, which is 75.




https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/mark-b-cohen-judge-facebook-posts-barred-20241008.html