On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, the Judicial Conduct Board filed a Petition for Relief for Interim Suspension Without Pay against John Robert Caffese, Magisterial District Judge, Magisterial District Court 43-4-04, County of Monroe. The case is styled as ‘In Re: John R. Caffese, with case number #1 JD 2022.
A criminal complaint was filed against Judge Caffese on November 18, 2022, by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. The complaint charged Judge Caffese with unsworn falsification to authorities, false swearing – official proceeding, theft by deception – false impression (4 counts), receiving stolen property (4 counts), and obstruction of the administration of law.
According to monroecountyda.com, the charges stemmed from Caffese misrepresentation of his residency in order to appear to reside within the magisterial district of Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock Townships, for his appointment as a Magisterial District Judge, as required by the state law.
The petition reads:
“The allegations contained within the felony charges and the other criminal charges pending against Judge Caffese undermine both public confidence in the judiciary and its reputation. If Judge Caffese is permitted to continue presiding over cases in Magisterial District Court 43-4-04 during the pendency of these charges, the public’s confidence in the judiciary will continue to erode.”
The Judicial Conduct Board is requesting that the Court of Judicial Discipline enter an interim order suspending Judge Caffese, without pay, pending disposition of the criminal charges filed against Caffese and to grant such other relief as may be deemed appropriate.
The Judge earned a law degree from the Widener University School of Law.
The Judge is in Courtroom 43-4-04, 1878 Route 940 and Hemlock Lane, Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania, and can be reached at +1 570-646-4637.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
