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No relatives in court, says judge
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Posted on Apr 27 1999
A Superior Court decision penned by Associate Judge Virginia S. Onerheim told members of the judicial system to inhibit themselves from hearing cases where family members are part of the legal team.
In a government case against Patrick Dowai, she granted the motion to disqualify Associate Judge John A. Manglona from the proceedings since his wife, Assistant Attorney General Ramona V. Manglona was briefly involved in the case.
Dowai is facing charges of illegal possession of controlled substance.
During his arraignment last month, the government was represented by Ramona Manglona. The defendant filed a petition to disqualify Associate Judge John Manglona.
According to the Commonwealth Law, “justice or judge of the Commonwealth shall disqualify himself or herself in any proceeding in which his or her impartiality might reasonably be questioned.”
The judge shall inhibit himself or herself if his or her spouse is acting as a lawyer in the proceeding.
Onerheim said R. Manglona’s appearance on behalf of the government, however brief, clearly falls within the definition of law.
“Assistant Attorney General Manglona’s brief involvement in the case is sufficient to raise a reasonable question about the judge’s impartiality,” she said.
