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Convicted Justice's Sentence Upheld-Except For Penning Apologies On Her Mugshot

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the conviction of former Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin on charges of misusing the resources of her judicial chambers on her political campaigns, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Paula Reed Ward reports. The most unusual part of Orie Melvin's sentence was thrown out: an order requiring her to write apologies to every judge in Pennsylvania on her picture in handcuffs.

Instead, Orie Melvin just has to write apologies. The Superior Court rejected the idea that forcing Orie Melvin to write apology letters was a violation of her right against self-incrimination.