Judge Jonathan Grine of Bellefonte, PA; ethical goblin

The state of Pennsylvania presented Jonathan David Grine with a law license in 2000 after he graduated from Penn State University Law School.

First and foremost, it should be noted that since he received his law license in 2000, Johnny has had his significant snout firmly implanted in the public trough for fourteen years (ca. 2000 to 2002 and 2004 to 2017). Apparently, no self-respecting law firm in the greater Centre County area was about to offer Johnny a good paying job.

The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board found Johnny guilty of the following misconduct.

• Exchanged text messages with DA Stacy Miller about a trial
• The day after a criminal conviction in his court wherein the defendant was out on bail pending sentencing, DA Miller sent 15 text messages to Johnny that specifically related to the then pending criminal case
• One text from DA Miller advised Johnny to impose restitution v. a defendant when sentencing him
• Engaged in a so-called “support relationship” with DA Miller during a time he was married
• DA Miller and Johnny’s relationship included sending numerous text messages and phone calls to discuss personal matters
• Johnny was represented by DA Miller during his first divorce
• While prosecuting cases before Johnny, DA Miller failed to disclose the existence of her prior and ongoing relationship with Johnny to opposing counsel and/or parties appearing in his so-called court
• Engaged in illegal ex parte (one-sided) communications with two judges

As a direct consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Judicial Misfits sitting on the Judicial Conduct Board punished Johnny by gifting him with a “letter of counsel,” which is an absolute joke.

As we speak (ca. October 2018), Johnny continues to sit as a Centre County Court judge in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.