Judicial Conduct Board
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Robert A. Graci, Chief Counsel
717-234-7911
Press Release
April 15, 2015
TO:
Media/Press
FROM:
Judicial Conduct Board
SUBJECT:
Michael J. Sullivan
Judge
Philadelphia Traffic Court
Kenneth Miller
Former Senior Magisterial District Judge
Delaware County
Michael Lowry
Judge
Philadelphia Traffic Court
Thomasine Tynes
Former Judge
Philadelphia Traffic Court
Harrisburg. On April 14, 2015, the Judicial Conduct Board filed formal charges by Board
Complaint in the Court of Judicial Discipline against Philadelphia Traffic Court Judges Michael
J. Sullivan and Michael Lowry, former Philadelphia Traffic Court Judge Thomasine Tynes, and
former Delaware County Magisterial District Judge Kenneth Miller. The Board Complaints
allege violations of the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Rules Governing Standards of
Conduct of Magisterial District Judges which apply to Philadelphia Traffic Court Judges, as well
as Magisterial District Judges.
Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, the judges and former judges who are the subject of the
charges are presumed innocent in all proceedings before the Court of Judicial Discipline. The
Board has the burden of proving the charges by clear and convincing evidence.
In accordance with the rules which govern proceedings before the Court of Judicial Discipline,
the judges and former judges each have an opportunity to respond to the charges, obtain and
inspect the evidence which forms the basis of the allegations, and the right to a public trial before
the Court of Judicial Discipline.
Upon completion of any trials, if the Court determines that any of the charges have been proven
by clear and convincing evidence, it will schedule Sanctions Hearings for the individual judges
or former judges to determine what sanction or sanctions should be imposed. Possible sanctions
include reprimand, suspension, or removal from office.
Contact:
Robert A. Graci, Chief Counsel
Counsel:
For the Board:
Francis J. Puskas, II, Deputy Chief Counsel
James P. Kleman, Jr., Deputy Counsel
For Judges Sullivan and Lowry:
Samuel C. Stretton, Esquire
For former Senior Magisterial District Judge Miller:
For former Judge Tynes:
Michael J. Malloy, Esquire
Louis R. Busico, Esquire
Because of their size, the Board Complaints are not attached but may be viewed in their entirety
at the Board’s website www.jcbpa.org. You may access the Board Complaints under “Press
Releases” under the “Resources” pull down tab.
END