Ex-judge gets law license back after suspension for taking $90K to do this
A former municipal court judge in Philadelphia has been reinstated to law practice after his suspension for accepting $90,000 from the campaign of a political opponent to drop out of a 2012 congressional campaign in the Democratic primary.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court reinstated Judge Jimmie Moore’s license in an Aug. 18 order. The state supreme court acted after its disciplinary board recommended reinstatement by an 8-3 vote.
Moore pleaded guilty to causing false statements to the Federal Election Commission in connection with the payment, according to an October 2017 press release. According to the plea agreement, he accepted the money to repay campaign debts and his loans to the campaign. He was sentenced to two years of probation in December 2019.
In its May 21 reinstatement recommendation, the disciplinary board said Moore, 74, “demonstrated rehabilitation from his criminal conduct” and showed moral fitness to practice by acknowledging the harm of his misconduct, expressing contrition, maintaining knowledge of the law and engaging in worthwhile community service.
Moore had no prior record of discipline as an attorney or a judge. During his suspension, he mentored imprisoned juveniles with his pastor, counseled youths on preparing for job interviews, and engaged in other community service. He also wrote a detective novel under a pen name.
Moore, who owned two residential rental properties, acknowledged some unsuccessful real estate investments. He resolved 38 lawsuits relating to taxes, liens and real estate disputes before his reinstatement hearing and resolved tax liens and debts to the best of his ability, according to the reinstatement recommendation. Many of the taxes and liens related to Moore’s business dealings and were “decades old.”
Nine character witnesses testified on Moore’s behalf during the March 2024 reinstatement hearing. He expressed remorse and testified that after the criminal case, “I just stayed in the house, other than to get food and what have you, because I was so embarrassed.”
After his reinstatement, Moore intends to have a limited law practice in which he can choose his projects and engage in pro bono work. He “believes he still has something to offer his community through legal services and expressed a sincere desire to give back to his community, which he has served for decades,” the recommendation said.
A disciplinary board dissent cited errors and omissions on Moore’s reinstatement questionnaire, including a failure to list the 38 suits in which he was a named party. He also collected two referral fees totaling more than $8,600, thinking that his license was still on active status, rather than retired status.
Moore “successfully served his sentence for the federal crimes he committed and has every right to enjoy the pursuits of retirement, such as fishing and book writing,” wrote dissenter Joshua F. Wilson, who was joined by two other disciplinary board members. “However, the practice of law should not be tantamount to a retirement recreation.”
Moore was represented by Robert Steven Tintner of Fox Rothschild and Samuel C. Stretton. Tintner did not immediately respond to an ABA Journal email seeking comment.
Stretton told the Journal that he thought that the reinstatement was warranted after a showing of acceptance of responsibility, rehabilitation and good works. Moore was a very good judge, Stretton said, and he welcomed his reinstatement to the profession.
Hat tip to Law360, which covered the reinstatement.
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