HARRISBURG, Pa. — A magisterial district judge in Harrisburg accused of having pressured police at the scene of her son’s arrest at a traffic stop was hit with ethics charges Monday by the Pennsylvania agency that investigates judges for violations of professional standards.
The Judicial Conduct Board wants District Judge Sonya McKnight to be suspended without pay while the matter is being considered.
McKnight was charged in December by the attorney general’s office with using her status as a judge to interfere with the February 2020 arrest of her son. McKnight, 54, a district judge since 2016, has been suspended with pay for the past two months.
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She is due in court Feb. 19 for a preliminary hearing in the criminal case, in which she is accused of evidence tampering, obstruction and official oppression.
Police said they stopped her adult son in Harrisburg and that he summoned her to the scene. Authorities allege that she took a pill bottle from his car and left, later telling investigators it was blood pressure medication. Her son was arrested on drug charges.
A message seeking comment was left with her attorney.
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Associated Press
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