Judge who allegedly kept 'Book of Grudges' faces misconduct charges
A Pennsylvania judge who allegedly kept a “Book of Grudges” and a sexually explicit calendar in her office violated judicial conduct standards, according to formal charges filed Wednesday. (Image from Shutterstock)
A Pennsylvania judge who allegedly kept a “Book of Grudges” and a sexually explicit calendar in her office violated judicial conduct standards, according to formal charges filed Wednesday.
The Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania also accused Lehigh County Magisterial District Judge Amy L. Zanelli of excessive tardiness and absences. She was elected to her position in 2021.
Zanelli allegedly described a local attorney as “just a d- - -” in the “Book of Grudges” and made notes that were critical of another person who appeared in her court in landlord-tenant matters. She placed the “Book of Grudges” in a general work area in the office accessible to her staff to add notations to it if they wished, according to the complaint.
Zanelli brought to the office a desk calendar that contained explicit sexual messages “evidently intended to be humorous,” according to the complaint. One message was about bedroom plants that a man would have to “slice through with a machete if he wants that p- - - -,” the complaint said. Zanelli kept the calendar in a general work area, although she removed it in 2022 after her staff complained to the former office manager, according to the complaint.
Zanelli is also accused of improper demeanor toward a defendant who was representing himself by banishing him to the hallway while the alleged victim was testifying.
Samuel C. Stretton, Zanelli’s attorney, told the ABA Journal that he’s filing a motion to have her case submitted to a diversionary program.
“Pennsylvania is unique in that we have a diversionary process,” Stretton says. “Issues can be resolved with counseling, and judges go on to do good jobs.”
Legal Newsline and Law.com also had coverage.
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