The Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline has suspended Troy Magisterial District Judge Jonathan Wilcox without pay as part of an investigation into misconduct.
Last month, the PA Judicial Conduct Board filed charges against Wilcox and asked that he be suspended without pay until the matter is resolved.
According to the complaint, Wilcox is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a defendant in a harassment case in his district court.
The complaint includes 91 pages of screenshots of text messages allegedly between Wilcox and the individual. He is also accused of instructing staff to destroy court files and sentencing a person to jail time without holding a hearing.
According to The Daily Review, the county will look to appoint a senior magistrate to fill in during Wilcox’s suspension.
When Wilcox took a leave of absence from Aug. 18 to Sept. 29, former Towanda District Judge Timothy Clark, who is now a senior magistrate, filled the Troy position.
If the court determines that any of the charges against Wilcox have been proven, punishment could include censure, suspension, a fine or removal from office.
