Melvin jury leaves, deliberations resume Tuesday

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The jury in the campaign corruption trial of suspended state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin and her sister has finished deliberating for the day.

The jury of nine women and three men deliberated a little more than two hours Friday, after first hearing closing arguments from Allegheny County prosecutors and defense attorneys. They'll return to resume deliberating Tuesday, because of the Presidents' Day holiday weekend.

Melvin and her aide, Janine Orie, are charged with misusing Melvin's state-paid staff and that of a third sister, former state Sen. Jane Orie, for political campaigning when Melvin was a Superior Court judge running for a seat on the state's highest court in 2003 and 2009.

The jury on Friday asked for a written definition of the crimes the women face. The judge will give that to them Tuesday.

WPXI