LANCASTER, Pa.–The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has reinstated the law license of former Lancaster magisterial district judge Kelly Ballentine.
Ballentine was suspended from office last year for judicial misconduct. The Court of Judicial Discipline said Ballentine violated the Pennsylvania Rules for Professional Conduct after she admitted to dismissing her own traffic tickets and failed to file tax returns.
The state Supreme Court issued an order March 4 saying, “there being no other outstanding order of suspension or disbarment, Kelly S. Ballentine is reinstated to active status, effective immediately.”
In his dissenting opinion Justice Max Baer wrote, “would issue a rule to show cause up on the Office of Disciplinary Counsel directing it to inform the Court, pursuant to Pa.R.D.E. 218(g)(2)(i), whether disciplinary proceedings are pending or have been authorized based upon all of the conduct resulting in Respondent’s (Ballentine’s) removal from h er position as magisterial district judge.”
