Women Banned From All Pa. Malls

Four women pled guilty earlier this week to stealing from the Macy’s at the Willow Grove Mall. (Uhh, ladies? Bloomingdale’s is so much nicer.) They’ve apparently been doing similar thefts all over the country and have criminal records in 10 states.

The judge called them a “plague of locusts” and gave them an extra punishment:

The judge also ordered them to stay out of all malls in Pennsylvania.

Hmm, that is quite a ban, but it raises some questions. What about outlet malls that aren’t enclosed? For that matter, what about places like the Roosevelt Mall, which are called malls but are just big outdoor shopping centers? Man, this is complicated; I do not envy the probation officer for these women.

Four women who stole Willow Grove Park are banned from malls [AP/The Intelligencer via Philly Edge]
[Photo of Franklin Mills Athlete's Foot employees]

The Court Decision Of The Century

Oh! Later today a judge will decide whether SEPTA is allowed to eliminate transfers, which Mayor Street says are used by kids going to one of the city’s horrible public schools.

As you may remember, the judge issued an emergency stay of the elimination of transfers until today last week. This was probably so the judge could look over case law and figure out if SEPTA could get rid of ‘em, but I’d like to think he spent his week just starting at a token and a transfer and nothing else.

SEPTA Board chairman Pat Deon argues that few riders actually use the transfers: :”My understanding is that it affects probably six percent of our riders, which are occasional riders.”

My guess: A bunch of kids who “went to school” just spent their money on SEPTA novelties instead, like coasters and trading cards.

SEPTA Riders Brace For Ruling On Transfers [KYW 1060]

Pa. Judges Just As Trashy As Other Pennsylvanians

If you’re ever going up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a lawsuit¹, please note you don’t really have a shot if the judge is current Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Paul P. Panepinto. Panepinto got a free Super Bowl ticket from the Steelers last year.

Okay, so Panepinto got his ticket from friends who were invited to the game by the Steelers and so his free ticket would hopefully not influence his decision. (But it certainly gives you grounds for appeal, if that’s how “grounds for appeal” works.) And, hey, this judge got offered a free Super Bowl ticket. I don’t think it’s hard to see a successful smear campaign against a judge who turned down a free ticket to the Super Bowl on the grounds he doesn’t have his priorities in order.

In Pennsylvania, unlike most states, judges can receive gifts up to $250 as long as they report them. This is a great practice because it allows journalists to write stories about wacky gifts lawmakers got, such as Judge Panepinto’s Super Bowl tickets.

And, uh, sometimes the gifts were just a little odd:

James DeLeon, a Philadelphia municipal judge seeking the Democratic nod for Superior Court, said he and his wife renewed their wedding vows during a “mock marriage” event at the Trump resort, an event he said is mainly designed for gamblers. DeLeon said he is not a gambler, but was referred to the resort by a friend.

Hey, just think: In just a short time DeLeon can renew his vows at a “mock marriage” right here in Philadelphia.

Gifts to judges — like free Steelers Super Bowl tickets — raise questions about Pa. rules [AP/PittsburghLive.com]

¹ I’m not quite sure how you would have been in a position to sue — or, I suppose, be sued by — the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I bet it involves Terry Bradshaw and Paxil.

[Photo via ePodunk]

Judge: You Can Pry Internet Porn From My Cold, Dead Hands

Whoo! Internet porn is now free to, uh, roam the Internet!

Yesterday, a federal judge right here in Freedom City itself, Philadelphia, struck down the 1998 Child Online Protection Act (COPA), writing he “may not turn a blind eye to the law in order to attempt to satisfy my urge to protect this nation’s youth by upholding a flawed statute.” Awws yeah!

And, then, he laid out this beautiful sentence:

“Indeed, perhaps we do the minors of this country harm if First Amendment protections, which they will with age inherit fully, are chipped away in the name of their protection.”

Oh snap! Let all of us — the porn stars, the porn consumers, the free-speech lovers — use our free speech to praise one U.S. District Judge Lowell A. Reed Jr. today.

Federal judge in Phila. strikes down pornography measure [Inquirer]