Rolf Larsen
Encyclopedia
Rolf Larsen a Democrat
originally from Allegheny County, was first elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1978.
In 1981, a public feud between Larsen and Justice Robert N. C. Nix, Jr.
took on racial undertones when newspapers reported that Larsen allegedly threatened to publicize the fact that Nix was black in an attempt to defeat him for retention
. Larsen was investigated and exonerated by a judicial board of inquiry, however, the disputes between the Justices continued. In 1992, Larsen was accused of improperly communicating with a trial judge about a case. Larsen in turn filed court documents accusing Nix and other Justices of the Supreme Court of similar conduct. Upon hearing those allegations, the Pennsylvania Attorney General convened a grand jury
to investigate the situation. The grand jury found no evidence of improper communications among members of the court but did find evidence that Justice Larsen was involved in a conspiracy
to fraudulently obtain prescription drugs. Larsen, who had been prescribed for clinical anxiety
and depression since the 1960s, arranged for his doctor to write prescriptions to Court employees because he had wanted to keep his treatment a secret while holding public office. He was charged with several offenses related to this matter on October 28, 1993.
On April 9, 1994, a jury found Larsen guilty of two counts of criminal conspiracy. On June 13, the trial court sentenced Justice Larsen to one year of probation for each count and removed him from office for the "infamous" crime of which he was convicted.
While Larsen appealed the sentencing order, the Pennsylvania General Assembly
proceeded with impeachment and removal proceedings. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives impeached Larsen on seven charges, some relating to the crime and another relating to improper communication with a trial judge about a case. On October 4, the Pennsylvania Senate convicted Larsen of improper communication, removed him from office, and prohibited him from holding any office of public trust in the future.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
originally from Allegheny County, was first elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1978.
In 1981, a public feud between Larsen and Justice Robert N. C. Nix, Jr.
Robert N. C. Nix, Jr.
Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix, Jr. served as the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court from 1984 to 1996. Nix was the first African American Chief Justice of any state’s highest court, and the first African American to be elected to statewide office in Pennsylvania...
took on racial undertones when newspapers reported that Larsen allegedly threatened to publicize the fact that Nix was black in an attempt to defeat him for retention
Retention election
A judicial retention election is a periodic process whereby a judge is subject to a referendum held at the same time as a general election...
. Larsen was investigated and exonerated by a judicial board of inquiry, however, the disputes between the Justices continued. In 1992, Larsen was accused of improperly communicating with a trial judge about a case. Larsen in turn filed court documents accusing Nix and other Justices of the Supreme Court of similar conduct. Upon hearing those allegations, the Pennsylvania Attorney General convened a grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
to investigate the situation. The grand jury found no evidence of improper communications among members of the court but did find evidence that Justice Larsen was involved in a conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
to fraudulently obtain prescription drugs. Larsen, who had been prescribed for clinical anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
and depression since the 1960s, arranged for his doctor to write prescriptions to Court employees because he had wanted to keep his treatment a secret while holding public office. He was charged with several offenses related to this matter on October 28, 1993.
On April 9, 1994, a jury found Larsen guilty of two counts of criminal conspiracy. On June 13, the trial court sentenced Justice Larsen to one year of probation for each count and removed him from office for the "infamous" crime of which he was convicted.
While Larsen appealed the sentencing order, the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
proceeded with impeachment and removal proceedings. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives impeached Larsen on seven charges, some relating to the crime and another relating to improper communication with a trial judge about a case. On October 4, the Pennsylvania Senate convicted Larsen of improper communication, removed him from office, and prohibited him from holding any office of public trust in the future.
Notable Opinions
Pugh v. Holmes, 486 Pa. 272, 405 A.2d 897 (Pa. 1979) - abandoned the doctrine of "Caveat Emptor", and held that residential leases contain an implied warranty of habitability.External links
- http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/29/us/justice-charged-in-a-drug-scheme.html
- http://www.aopc.org/OpPosting/Supreme/out/Larsen-Opinion-Hudock.pdf
- http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10881019&BRD=2549&PAG=461&dept_id=514257&rfi=6