Allegheny County Judge Tranquilli resigns before misconduct trial

On the eve of his misconduct trial, Allegheny County Judge Mark V. Tranquilli has resigned, his attorney said Tuesday. Tranquilli had been accused of making racist remarks about a juror.

The judge, who won a seat on the court in 2013, was accused of six separate misconduct counts from his behavior in both family and criminal court — including that he engaged in “racial or other harassment.”

Matt Logue, his attorney, confirmed Tuesday evening that Tranquilli resigned his position on the bench.

In a filing with the Court of Judicial Discipline, Tranquilli stipulated to the facts alleged in the Judicial Conduct Board complaint.

He waived both his trial and a sanctions hearing.

Separately, on Tuesday, Tranquilli submitted a letter of resignation to to Gov. Tom Wolf.

“It has been an honor to serve the citizens of our Commonwealth for the past seven years as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County,” Tranquilli wrote.

“My decision to resign is unequivocal, and I will not seek nor will I accept any judicial office or senior judge status in the future.”

The letter was also copied to state Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Saylor; Allegheny County President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark, as well as attorneys with the Judicial Conduct Board.

The investigation into Tranquilli’s behavior began following a jury trial in January in which he was accused of referring to a Black female juror during a conversation in chambers as “Aunt Jemima.”

Tranquilli said in an apology letter to his colleagues — after the charges were filed against him — that he was referring not to the woman on the jury but to the head wrap she was wearing.

His trial had been scheduled for Wednesday before a three-judge panel of the Court of Judicial Discipline, in Brookville, Jefferson County.

The Judicial Conduct Board also brought charges that Tranquilli spoke in Ebonics to a Black couple during a custody matter before him in 2015. (Ebonics is an academic term for the speech of Black Americans.)

Tranquilli was placed on administrative leave by Allegheny County President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark in February and was officially suspended without pay by the Court of Judicial Discipline on Aug. 26.

Lena Henderson, speaking on behalf of the Pittsburgh Black Lawyers Alliance and herself, said that Tranquilli’s resignation should give some assurance to Black defendants, jurors and participants in the system that a judge can’t behave like he did.

“I think this is a very good day. Finally, he has realized that what he did was wrong,” she said. “This shows Pennsylvania, the Black community and the community at large that judges are not above reproach. … They have to take the consequences of their wrongdoing as it impacts everyone.”