Ex-jurist reports to chemo treatment, not prison

Superior Court puts Rita A. Arnold’s state jail sentence on hold By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times A Superior Court decision has enabled Rita A. Arnold, a former magisterial district judge, to continue with her chemotherapy treatment, not report to state prison. An embattled former Chester County magisterial district judge got a Christmas Eve reprieve from the Superior Court, which...

Visiting judge denies ex-jurist’s plea for clemency

Rita A. Arnold ordered to return to state prison on Dec. 27 By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times A visiting senior judge denied a defense request to reconsider the state prison term imposed two months ago on Rita A. Arnold, a former magisterial district judge. A visiting judge rejected a motion for reconsideration for a former magisterial district justice in Chester County Court on Tuesday...

Former jurist slammed with state prison term

Rita A. Arnold ordered to spend 16 to 32 months in jail  By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Former Magisterial District Judge Rita A. Arnold received a 16- to 32-month state prison sentence Tuesday in Chester County Court. Stressing that “the oath we take to tell the truth” must mean something, a visiting judge issued an aggravating-range sentence to an embattled former Chester...

County’s Veterans Court celebrates graduate

Program offers rigorous, diversionary treatment tailored to military By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Chester County Senior Court Judge Thomas G. Gavin (left), who oversees the county’s Veterans Court, congratulates its newest graduate, Louis A. Freda II. A 30-year-old Chester County Marine was admittedly operating on a short fuse on Nov. 13, 2010 – the day he ended up with...

County giving jurors pat on back this week

Commissioners’ proclamation expresses gratitude for service By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times County residents who happened to have jury duty Monday got refreshments and a personal expression of gratitude, but county officials want to extend thanks to those called to service throughout the year – a number that exceeded 33,000 last year. The occasion was  Juror Appreciation...

Magisterial district judge resigns after arrest

Former jurist accused of same conduct for which she was suspended in July By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Embattled Chester County Magisterial District Judge Rita A. Arnold resigned from her position Tuesday after being arrested. In July, Magisterial District Judge Rita A. Arnold pleaded with the state Court of Judicial Discipline to let her keep her “dream” job at a sanctions...

Indicted local judge suspended without pay

State Supreme Court acted on petition filed Thursday by Judicial Conduct Board By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times  Magisterial District Judge Mark A. Bruno has been suspended without pay, pending final disposition of his federal criminal charges. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Friday ordered a Chester County magisterial district judge ensnared in the sweeping federal probe of alleged...