Tidd was represented by West Chester Attorney Samuel C. Stretton. The judges on this panel were Allegheny County Magisterial District Judges David Barton, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Minehart and Lackawanna County President Judge Michael Barrasse.
This ordeal took its toll on Tidd. In addition to resigning as a Magisterial District Judge, he also moved his law practice to Berks County.
He still faces a potential parallel complaint with the state Disciplinary Board, but Friday's ruling makes that far less likely. .
Though exonerated by the Court of Judicial Discipline, Tidd was convicted by the Express Times long ago. Here are some of the headlines. "Bully judge dropped F-bombs, slept on floor in robes, panel finds." "Misconduct trial starts for ex-judge who ran 'fast food' court." "Bully judge ignored warnings about misconduct, clerk testifies." "Work was 'intolerable' with judge's cursing, abuse, clerk testifies." "Judge held clerks 'against our will' in confrontation, witness says." "Disgraced judge admits regrets, suicidal thoughts, but not misconduct."
As if this were not bad enough, he was also accused of playing favorites with a local defense lawyer.
Headlines are one thing, but facts are another. As the 32-page opinion below makes clear, Tidd was victimized by office staffer Brenda Anthony, who for some reason had it in for him. You'll have to ask her why. Tidd even hired her daughter, Amber Glass, to work for him. Tidd lent his staff money, too. But behind his back, Brenda Anthony was talking to Tidd's election opponent, feeding him confidential information. This is in violation of a ban on partisan political activity by court-appointed employees. She and Amber kept notes about Tidd, and would save video clips from within the office if they were juicy, while deleting everything else. They even scheduled hearings for him on election day, forcing him to leave the campaign trail.
They dimed him for sleeping on his robe without bothering to point out that he used his robe as a pillow to take a nap one day because of a serious medical illness.
He was slammed for running a "fast food" court, dispensing justice from his office counter. But as witnesses explained, Tidd never conducted trials from a counter. He did sometimes ask a police officer or a defendant of there was going to be a plea arrangement. His function there was mostly administrative and had more to do with being in confined quarters than any desire for a judicial McDonald's.
He was also accused of playing favorites by notifying a local defense lawyer he knew of outstanding parking tickets so he could come in and pay the fine before an arrest warrant was issued. Testimony showed that Tidd offered this same courtesy to others.
He was charged with using his position as a judge to pick up work as a lawyer or to represent peiple who had matters before him as a jurist. Testimony showed that Tiidd sought and followed ethical guidance concerning anyone who approached him for representation when there was a matter before him as a judge. When there was a conflict, he'd have the judicial matter reassigned. One of the persons who testified against him was Leslie Ziegler, the wife of one of Tidd's judicial opponents in 2015."We find troubling the apparent motivation behind Ziegler's April, 2015 complaint concerning acts that occurred in 2010 and 2011," the Court observed.
So after being tarred and feathered, where does Tidd go to get his reputation back?
As of November, Brenda Anthony was still listed as a Magisterial District Judge Tech. Her daughter, Amber Glass, is a 911 operator.
19 comments:
Brenda Anthony and Her daughter, Amber Glass, should be brought up on charges of violating the law
Where is Morganelli on this?
Additionally Brenda should be removed from the courts permanently
Brenda Anthony violated very clear rules that ban ban political activity by judicial employees. She was actually feeding confidential information to David’s opponent. The Court of Judicial Discipline essentially called her a liar. She should not be able to prey on other MDJs. But what happens to her is up to the courts.
Wow, this is shocking. Great work BO.
ok, so his career is ruined, what recourse does he have? sue the two women who have nothing? sue the newpapers? what
I recall reading the article you mention, and all the salacious details. I was convinced Mr. Tidd was guilty of all the charges.
Very interesting to see that he was essentially set up and sabotaged by his "trusted" employees. Ms. Anthony is a real piece of work. Excellent reporting as usual.
Brenda Anthony was assigned to Judge Hawks court where she started shit there too with Hawk, stating she would run against him. He had her removed and last I heard she was a Judge Taschner's office starting shit there as well. I am also told the Controller is investigating Anthony and her daughter about money at the MDJs. She is a cancer that needs to be removed. Judge Tidd did NOT deserve what they did to him. He treated them like family and they totally turned on him. Karma will come one day to them all.
Same place you went to get your reputation back. Oh wait, you never did. Well, he can always write a meaningless blog.
He can start by extracting an apology from you for hopping on the sensational, schadenfreude bandwagon before the truth was known.
I never believed the accusations against Tidd, and supported him here.
Is she connected to anyone? By now an employee would have been let go.
Court Administration, the President Judge and everyone owe's Judge Tidd an apology, they ran with this petty complaints while the Judge did nothing but come into work with severe Chron's disease...he didn't take months off like the other MDJ's would do. How did they return the favor? By keeping a politically connected staff worker and her daughter there to defame, harass and invade the privacy of Judge Tidd every chance they got. This man was nothing but nice to each and every one of his staff and even when he found out they turned on him, he of course was aggravated and cursed but still treated them with respect and professionalism..they continued to undermine his court and him personally. God help Judge Mege when he comes in..they still want the opponent who Judge Tidd beat in that court.
9:09, Calling someone a "cancer who must be removed" is a bit over the top, especially when you don't say who you are.
Tidd privately told people the truth. Too bad many did not listen. The ET still has not printed a story on his exoneration. At lease the MCall had the decency to do that, and put it on the front page. It is too bad they let Bill White take pot shots in his column today regarding another decent guy who is going down as a result of others. (Bernie-I know that last sentence is off topic---but I hope you call White out for taking a cheap shot)
Funny how different people react differently. I thought it was flattering in a Hickeyish way.
Is she part of the Easton Anthony's? If so the courts wont touch her. They have more patronage than any part of government.
I've seen on several occasions how he treated his employees. He was atrocious. This guy is always getting away with something or having someone fired. No one owes him an apology
Stop it already.you’ve been shown as the scum you are, trying to lynch a good man.
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