The jury has found suspended state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin and her sister, Janine Orie guilty on all but one count in a campaign corruption trial.
Both were found guilty on all counts except official oppression. On that charge, the jury was hung.
The jury returned the verdict on the fourth day of deliberations.
Earlier in the day, the jury sent the judge a note which read in part, “For as close as we are, could we hear the definition of accomplice” with regard to defendant Janine Orie.
The judge read the definition and the jury resumed deliberations.
The sisters are charged with misusing Melvin’s former Superior Court staff to help her campaign for the state’s highest court in 2003 and 2009.
Janine Orie was an aide to the judge then and Allegheny County prosecutors say she helped organize that illegal campaign work — as well as other allegedly illegal work done by the state-funded staff of a third sister, then-state Sen. Jane Orie.
The sisters have denied any wrongdoing.
More: Orie Melvin Guilty on 6 of 7 Counts (PoliticsPA)
Pa. Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin convicted of corruption (Patriot-News)
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