Kelly S. Ballentine
The state Judicial Conduct Board officially suspended, with pay, District Judge Kelly S. Ballentine on Wednesday.
According to a press release from the Court of Judicial Discipline in Harrisburg, Ballentine's suspension is pending felony charges against her.
Ballentine, 43, who presides over part of Lancaster city, is accused of using the district justice computer system to dismiss three traffic violations issued to her by city police last year.
She is charged with three counts of conflict of interest, six counts of tampering with public records or information and three counts of obstructing administration of law or government function.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office filed a criminal complaint against Ballentine on Feb. 13, alleging she failed to pay fines and costs associated with the traffic citations.
That day, Lancaster County President Judge Joseph Madenspacher, who has authority over the county district judges, placed Ballentine on "indefinite administrative leave until all criminal charges are resolved."
However, he did not have the power to suspend her.
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