The bill specifically pinpoints district attorneys, Osenbach said, partly because a "district attorney is held to a higher standard.". ", Rule 1.7 of professional conduct for lawyers states that a "concurrent conflict of interest exists if there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more clients will be materially limited by the lawyer's responsibilities to another client, a former client or a third person or by a personal interest of the lawyer.". Share this page on your favorite Social network. Since Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas II has been charged with felony rape, several questions have emerged about his position, according to court officials. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Find Court Records related to Somerset County District Attorney. Creany indicated he will review the conversations in question and listen to each sides arguments before deciding whether those messages are relevant. The otheris if the district attorney's law license is disbarred. Metzgar's position as first assistant assistant district attorney is toremain vacant. Schaffer said she could not discuss that process involving Thomas due to privacy guidelines but that it was "deemed that he qualified," saying she was unable to elaborate. What I mean by that is conflict of interest, as it is defined in the ethics act, is when the public official uses the authority of their position to gain financial benefit or financial benefit for a family member," Caruso said. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill No. A "rule to show cause" has been in place for Thomas since Sept. 30. She has served as a Deputy District Attorney, Assistant Attorney General and as the State Representative for House District 57, serving on the Judiciary Committee. Neither of the judgeshas spoken publicly about the matter. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. Follow Judy D.J. A letter to District Judge Bill Seger ofWindber indicates that Somerset County District Attorney JeffThomas attempted to intervene in his wife's case. State rules on criminal procedure dictate that a case against a defendant must go to trial within a year of the date charges were filed in this case, by September. Thomas was elected as Somerset Countys district attorney in 2019, but cannot oversee the office or operate as an attorney due to a state law and the fact his law license is suspended indefinitely. Jeffrey Thomas Pittsburgh-based defense attorney, Ryan Tutera, declined comment when reached about the letter. High 63F. Also on Tuesday, two new part-time assistant district attorneys were hired to be part of the county's prosecutorialteam. William Clineof Somerset, a former county assistant district attorney in the early 2000s, and Sydney Benderof Patton, who is an associate attorney at the Law Office of Michael A. Sossong in Ebensburg, and has been a licensed attorney since 2015, are tobe paid $32,000 annually. The Daily American obtained a copy of the letter from the county by filing a Right-to-Know request. Suggest Listing Address and Phone Number for Somerset County District Attorney, a District Attorney Office, at East Union Street, Somerset PA. Name Somerset County District Attorney Suggest Edit Address 111 East Union Street Somerset , Pennsylvania , 15501 Phone 814-445-1456 Map of Somerset County District Attorney Court records show Cambria County President Judge Norman A. Krumenacker III issued an order naming Blair County defense attorney Thomas Dickey to represent the suspended prosecutor in the domestic case against him. In situations when a public defender deems someone is not qualified or signals that there is a conflict preventing them from representing a client, the county's president judge has a final say. The act requires district attorneys to hold an active law license while in office. The law also provides that in a case of temporary suspension, such as the sanction Thomas received, the first assistant will act as district attorney if willing, qualified and able. According to court dockets, the rule to show cause means that a lawyer must respond to the disciplinary arm of the state Supreme Courton an inquiry ofa matter brought before it, usually it in the form of a complaint about a lawyer's conduct. Sep. 8SOMERSET, Pa. Suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas is suing the county for suspending his salary and benefits. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General received jurisdiction this week to prosecute the domestic assault case, as well as the separate rape case filed a week later against Jeffrey Thomas. Calls for district attorney's resignation? Charged: Police: Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas showed up uninvited, raped Windber woman, Protection order: Hearing rescheduled against Somerset County DA Jeffrey Thomas. The Somerset County District Attorney, located in Skowhegan, ME, is an agency that prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the Skowhegan government. CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). View map of Somerset County Prosecuting Attorney, and get driving directions from your location. Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Somerset/Bedford), who abstained from voting for the bill, explained his position in the following statement. But the Somerset County Courthouse is a county building. Home | Staff Directory | District Attorney's Office District Attorney's Office Physical Address: 41 Court St. Skowhegan, ME 04976 Phone: 207-474-2423 Fax: 207-474-7407 Display # Services for Citizens. Lurie also noted the delay will also help because a separate witness for their defense will be traveling overseas due to a sudden death in that persons family. It will assure the citizens that the integrity expected in the office of District Attorney is maintained," Yaw said. Itprecludes an individual from continuing to serve as district attorney without an active law license. To qualify for public-paid representation, an individual first must file an application with the public defender's office in the county where he or she is charged, outlining his or her financial status, Cambria County Public Defender Maribeth Schaffer said. 2023 County Office. 420 into law that amended the state's county codes concerning qualification for the office of district attorney. The letter bears Thomas' signature under his office's letterhead and is dated Sept. 13 before the state Office of . The county commissioners promoted Thomas Leiden of Ebensburg, aformer Cambria County solicitor and assistant district attorney, from part-time district attorney in Somerset County to full-time assistant district attorney effective Tuesday at $59,703 annually. Somerset County District Court: 410-845-4700: Somerset County Parole & Probation: 410-651-2211: . The nine-page filing seeks a declaratory judgment from the Somerset County Court of Common Pleas. Their review included messages sent between Thomas and the alleged victim and conversations sent from the womans phone to other people. About Us Contact Us Jeffrey Thomas, 36, faces a preliminary hearing Oct. 19 in the rape case. A well-known defense attorney will represent Thomas in a Cambria County criminal case paid with taxpayer dollars. Thomas was charged with sexually assaulting an acquaintance, a Windber woman, inside her home last fall. High 63F. Your Profile? Thomas has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and has said he plans to defend himself at trial. Tom Wolf on Nov. 17, amended the state's county codes concerning qualifications for the office of district attorney. Bristol County District Attorney's Office Address Main Office 218 South Main Street, Suite 101, Fall River, MA 02721 Directions Phone (508) 997-0711 Online Bristol DA's Office Website Learn more about this organization Bristol County District Attorney's Office Get Directions Details Overview Hours Parking Overview Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. Independent Court-Appointed Conflict Counsel Somerset County Sep 2013 - Mar 2020 6 years 7 . Find 8 external resources related to Somerset County Prosecuting Attorney. A day after the disciplinary counsel's ruling, Somerset County President Judge D. Gregory Geary issued an administrative order that galvanized the temporary suspension of the law license of Thomas. Wolf has the option of signing the bill into law, vetoing the bill or letting it ride for 10 days at which point it will automatically become Pennsylvania law. The board consists ofthe commissioners and Somerset County Treasurer Donna Matsko Schmitt. Lawyer Bob Davis Jr., who is based out of Harrisburg, has served in the past asbar association counsel in West Virginia, assistantcounsel forthe State Bar of Georgiaand deputy chief and acting chief of the disciplinary board in Pennsylvania. Follow him on Twitter@TDDavidHurstand Instagram@TDDavidHurst. County Office is not affiliated with any government agency. Attorneys Ryan Tutera and Eric Jackson Lurie did not go into detail in court Friday about the specifics of the medical review. The county code expressly provides that all district attorneys receive the same compensation, which is $1,000 lower than that paid court of common pleas judges in their judicial district. This was granted Oct. 6, a day after Somerset County First Assistant District Attorney Molly Metzgar wrote that she and the attorney general's office agreed that keeping jurisdiction in the county would constitute a conflict of interest. He now works as anadjunct professor at Widener Law Commonwealth, where heteaches professional responsibility and ethics. "This (lawsuit) is brand-new right now. The law, identified as. Chance of rain 70%. William Cline of Somerset, a former county assistant district attorney in the early 2000s, and Sydney Bender of Patton, who is an associate attorney at the Law Office of Michael A. Sossong in Ebensburg, and has been a licensed attorney since 2015, are to be paid $32,000 annually. The county was served notice of the lawsuit Tuesday, Somerset County Solicitor Michael Barbera said. The District Attorney heads the Somerville Prosecutor's Office, directing the attorneys who work for the office. Thomas' suit is seeking for his regular pay and benefits to be restored as well as all back pay he has lost since last fall to be awarded to him. get driving directions from your location, US Department of Justice - US Attorneys Website, Somerset County Court Records (Pennsylvania), Somerset County Court of Common Pleas Court Records, Somerset County District Attorney Arraignment Records, Somerset County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Website. Jeffrey Thomas waived all . Thomas is accused of assaulting his wife last year on the way home from a Johnstown bar an act both he and his wife maintain did not occur. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. He said Jeff Thomas' letter could have been part of what drew the attention of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which has shown interest in the Somerset County district attorney. Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas arrives for his preliminary hearing at the Somerset County Courthouse on Tuesday, October 19, 2021. Simple assault and harassment charges. The delay also means that, barring a resolution to the case prior to trial, the Thomas case would linger into the election year for his county district attorneys office seat. Follow Judy D.J. Oct. 8SOMERSET Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey L. Thomas sought to have charges against his wife dropped last month, soon after she was accused by Windber police of assaulting him during a domestic dispute, a letter obtained by The Tribune-Democrat indicates. He said the county will review the suit and file a response within the court-mandated 20-day time frame. Election 2019 provides a few upsets, other surprises, Attorney general's office amends charges against Somerset County district attorney, Why Pa. municipalities, schools must make agendas public prior to meetings, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Caruso said hiscommission can look at that kind of conduct that could lead to an allegation of conflict-of-interest under the ethics law.". The District Attorney heads the Somerset Prosecutor's Office, directing the attorneys who work for the office. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. An employee of Seger's office told the Daily American that the magistrate could not comment on the letter. Copyright 2022 Somerset County, MD. 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This letter was later released to other media by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. "I'm looking forward to working with the new hires to fill out the team.". David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. 30500 Prince William St. Princess Anne, Md. CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. (814) 443-2894. And it could immediately affect the pay of Somerset District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas. . Though it's unclear whether that correspondenceis part of pending proceedings against Jeff Thomas by the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, some legal experts believe it could be deemed inappropriate. Reporters Eric Kieta and Judy D.J. 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