CENTRE COUNTY (WPMT)- A Centre County judge selected by Governor Tom Wolf to fill a vacant seat on the state Supreme Court is withdrawing his nomination after coming under fire for allegedly forwarding a racially insensitive email in December 2013.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Friday that Judge Thomas K. Kistler forwarded a holiday card to 22 people titled “Merry Christmas From the Johnsons.” It depicted a black man and a black woman during what appears to be a jail visit. The man, smiling and wearing an orange prison uniform, sits behind a glass window.
Kistler admitted last week to the Center Daily Times that he had forwarded the message, but denied any ill intent.
Gov. Wolf said in a statement Monday that he accepted the Judge Kistler’s withdrawal of his nomination. Gov. Wolf nominated Judge Kistler two weeks ago to fill a temporary spot on the seven-member court. The governor also said he would not be putting forth another nomination.
