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9 judges charged with Philly ticket fixing
BY MARYCLAIRE DALE and MICHAEL RUBINKAM, Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA -- Get caught speeding? Running a red light? Leaving the scene of an accident? For years, it was no problem, authorities say -- so long as you were in Philadelphia and knew the right people.
The city's traffic court was the place where moving violations went to die, according to a federal indictment that charged nine judges with fixing tickets for friends, relatives, business associates and political allies.
A "widespread culture of giving breaks on traffic citations" persisted in the city, federal prosecutors alleged, though everyday citizens were out of luck. Only the well-connected got breaks.
The defendants include six current and former Philadelphia traffic court judges and three suburban judges who had stints at the court. Among them is former Traffic Court Judge Willie Singletary, who had been kicked out of office for showing cellphone photos of his genitals to a female clerk. A court clerk and two businessmen also were charged.
Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Gary S. Glazer, a former federal prosecutor tapped by Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald Castille to clean up traffic court, hailed Thursday's indictment as a "very positive step toward reforming the institution."
The state's Judicial Conduct Board moved quickly to suspend the judges without pay, pending the outcomes of their cases. Traffic court judges, who are not required to be lawyers, make about $91,000 per year.
Philadelphia ward leaders and Democratic City Committee associates, along with family and friends, regularly contacted the judges to seek help with traffic tickets.
The judges and their staffs took steps to hide the system of "consideration" by shredding paperwork, speaking in code and keeping a tight circle, according to court papers.
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