This just in from the Paula Reed Ward of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled this morning that state Senator Jane Orie's appeal against a retrial under the grounds of double jeopardy is "frivolous". Apparently the noose that Allegheny District Attorney, Stephen A. Zappala Jr., has placed around Senator Orie's head is now tightening.
In a 22-page opinion, a three-judge panel agreed with Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning that declaring a mistrial was required after the discovery of doctored documents during her trial for allegedly misusing her legislative resources to do campaign work.
The mistrial was declared on March 3, after the jury started deliberating.
"[When] given the opportunity, [Ms. Orie] suggested no viable alternatives to a mistrial," the appeals court wrote. Continuing, it said, "[The] record supports the court's determination that [Ms. Orie] was responsible for the mistrial, and she cannot place liability for the mistrial on either the court or the commonwealth." Read more
PennPatriot's View:
At this point Senator Orie is running out of options. The court has indicated that she is responsible for the mistrial that resulted from the forged documents. The same documents she is now accused of forging herself. Like I suggested yesterday when the Orie news broke. It is time for her to resign and face the music.
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