A Philadelphia choose’s function in a cheesesteak store owned by his spouse has prompted a panel to allege he’s violated the state’s ethics guidelines.
The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board on Tuesday filed a grievance in opposition to Frequent Pleas Choose Scott DiClaudio over Shay’s Steaks, a high-end cheesesteak restaurant that opened greater than a 12 months in the past a number of blocks from metropolis corridor.
He’s accused of utilizing his standing as a choose to advertise the enterprise.
“This complaint is such a farce,” DiClaudio, who’s appearing as his personal lawyer, stated in a cellphone interview Tuesday night. “People do not come to Shay’s because a judge may make their cheesesteak.”
“I have a support role, which I’m permitted to have,” he stated. In a podcast interview cited by the board, DiClaudio mentioned choices about pricing, substances, wage ranges for workers and competing eating places.
“I don’t mind charging $19, because I’m giving you a better quality steak,” DiClaudio stated on the podcast.
Currently, he stated, well being points and the calls for of getting a younger baby have restricted his time within the enterprise. As a felony courtroom choose, his focus nowadays is on courtroom actions filed by defendants after they’ve been convicted.
The Judicial Conduct Board investigates and prosecutes doable cases of choose misconduct in Pennsylvania. The case will probably be heard by the Courtroom of Judicial Self-discipline.
The board grievance notes that information protection of the restaurant in Philadelphia, the place cheesesteaks are the topic of perpetual public curiosity, has famous that he’s a choose. One story referred to him as “whiz honor” — a reference to the usage of Cheez Whiz on some cheesesteaks.
If something, DiClaudio stated, his function within the restaurant could also be enhancing the picture of judges within the minds of his fellow Philadelphians, giving them “confidence in the judiciary — that we’re not all robots.”
Shay’s Steaks is known as for his late mom and the luncheonette his mother and father ran for greater than 20 years in South Philly.
The grievance references a number of information tales in regards to the restaurant that describe him as a choose.
“I had no idea what they were going to write,” DiClaudio stated. “I had no say in the editing process until I saw it myself.”
He famous an indication on the restaurant states Jackee DiClaudio is the proprietor — the couple lives in the identical constructing because the restaurant.
He stated Shay’s Steaks has by no means used a picture of him in judicial robes or described him as a choose in promoting supplies.
He says he’s by no means been paid for his work there, and that the income go to his spouse.
DiClaudio is accused of falling wanting a requirement that judges at all times act in a means that promotes public confidence within the independence, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.
One other allegation is that he violated a rule that judges “not abuse the prestige of judicial office to advance the personal or economic interests of the judge or others, or allow others to do so.”
County judges resembling DiClaudio could not produce other employment that will in any means intervene with their judicial duties and duties, stated Sam Stretton, a outstanding judicial ethics lawyer. He has represented DiClaudio previously, and should once more within the present matter.
“He’s very proud of his wife and what she’s doing there,” Stretton stated. “Sure, he gives input but I don’t see that as being prohibited. The issue he’s got to deal with is: Is there self-promotion here?”
Complicating the case is that DiClaudio is presently on probation beneath a call by the Courtroom of Judicial Self-discipline that concerned tax liens and an unpaid invoice.
He was discovered to haven’t acknowledged debt on his monetary disclosure kinds and didn’t obey courtroom orders, resulting in repeated contempt citations in opposition to him, the courtroom stated.
He was suspended with out pay for 2 weeks, so to be able to qualify for a pension and retiree well being care he must serve two further weeks after his time period expires in January 2026.
A Democrat, he’s in search of retention to a different 10-year time period. If he wins retention he says he’s contemplating retiring early subsequent 12 months.
