Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Anthony Mariani facing over 60 misconduct complaints
KDKA News, 07/06/22: “Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Anthony Mariani is facing dozens of complaints related to alleged misconduct.
An advocacy group has filed more than 60 misconduct complaints against Judge Mariani after reviewing criminal proceedings over the past two years.
The Abolitionist Law Center released a 48-page report with the complaints. The allegations against Mariani include using racist language with defendants in front of him, depriving defendants of due process and insulting defendants who try and defend themselves.
Court observers say Mariani is not overtly racist but his comments and decisions are biased and may have resulted in the death of one defendant.
For a year, volunteers with the Abolitionist Law Center sat in courtrooms observing judges for signs of bias and poor judgment. They say Mariani stood out.
‘Clearly Judge Mariani was an outlier, routinely berating defendants,’ said Dolly Prabhu with the group.”