Former Judge Disbarred After Concert Groping

Nov 21, 2006 8:26 am US/Eastern

(AP) HARRISBURG, Pa. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has disbarred a former Monroe County judge who is serving 10 years’ probation for groping a preteen girl at a pop-music concert.

The justices issued their divided ruling in the case of Mark Pazuhanich on Friday in a one-page order that made the disbarment retroactive to Feb. 25, 2005. Justice J. Michael Eakin dissented, saying he would have imposed a five-year suspension.

Pazuhanich resigned from office and pleaded no contest to indecent assault, corruption of minors and other offenses related to his actions at the November 2003 Hilary Duff concert in Wilkes-Barre. He was placed on probation and required to register as a sex offender.

Pazuhanich, who attended the concert with his daughter, blamed his problems on alcohol and medication he had been taking.

A former Monroe County district attorney, Pazuhanich was arrested weeks after being elected to a 10-year-term as judge. He was sworn in but never heard a case.

In October 2004, the state Court of Judicial Discipline barred Pazuhanich from ever again serving as a Pennsylvania judge.

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CRC staff, 1.16.2007