Judge charged in handling of son’s case
HARRISBURG (AP) — A district judge from suburban Philadelphia has resigned after being charged with records tampering and obstruction in the handling of a case involving her son.
Magisterial District Judge Rita Arnold of Chester County had received a one-month suspension last year from the state Court of Judicial Discipline.
Officials said she had staffers keep a 2010 citation against her son out of the system for 2½ months in an effort to protect him from trouble with the county probation department, then transferred the case to another judge without telling the county president judge about the conflict of interest.
Defense attorney Heidi Eakin said Tuesday her client has taken full responsibility for her actions and is “incredibly sorry,” and hopes to expedite the process to avoid harm to the judiciary.