Ata Richard Zandieh aka Ata Zandi Aka Ata Zandieh: Dauphin County Judge Bruce Bratton named in a cou...

Ata Richard Zandieh aka Ata Zandi Aka Ata Zandieh: Dauphin County Judge Bruce Bratton named in a cou...: http://abc27.com/2016/07/08/attorney-reveals-emails-claims-racism-and-inappropriate-relationships-at-dauphin-county-courthouse/ HARRISB...

Dauphin County Judge Bruce Bratton named in a court motion claiming racism and inappropriate relationships at the courthouse.

http://abc27.com/2016/07/08/attorney-reveals-emails-claims-racism-and-inappropriate-relationships-at-dauphin-county-courthouse/

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – ABC27 has learned that Dauphin County Judge Bruce Bratton submitted notice of his resignation one week after a public defender named him in a court motion claiming racism and inappropriate relationships at the courthouse.

A Dauphin County spokesperson released a statement Friday following ABC27’s reports the previous day. The statement says Judge Bratton is retiring for personal and family reasons, effective August 31.

Public defender Lynn Ellenberger filed the motion that mentions Bratton at the Dauphin County Courthouse at the end of June. Her client is Emanon Shannon, who is serving a prison sentence of 45 to 90 years. Shannon was found guilty of robbery, aggravated assault, and kidnapping, amongst other charges.

Shannon is African-American, and Ellenberger’s motion says he cannot get a fair trial in Dauphin County, citing “the appearance, if not the actuality, of a bias and prejudice.”

Ellenberger is asking the Dauphin County bench to recuse itself and disqualify the district attorney’s office from Shannon’s case. She attached email chains to the court paperwork to support her argument.

One quotes a fake survey, saying “86 percent of Detroit’s inner city residents (almost all of whom are registered Democrats) said that they have enjoyed sex in the shower. The other 14 percent said they hadn’t been to prison yet.”

In her motion, Ellenberger writes that the reference to Detroit’s inner-city residents is “code for African-American.”

Another email chain involves a joke about a man named Leroy asking a preacher to pray for his hearing. After praying over his ears, the preacher asks Leroy how his hearing is. Leroy says, “I don’t know, Reverend, it ain’t til next Wednesday.”

Yet another email shows a series of pictures entitled “Prom Night at Camden High School.” The photos show several black high school students dressed for prom in what the motion refers to as “attire that would generally be considered unusual” with phrases such as “Who’s Yo Daddy?”, “The Hood”, and “GheToes.”

The documents show the emails were received by several prominent figures in Dauphin County. The motion specifically names those with connections to court proceedings, including two Dauphin County judges (Bratton and the late Judge Bernard Coates); District Attorney Ed Marsico; assistant district attorneys Fran Chardo, Michael Rozman, and Stephen Zawisky; and defense attorneys including Ari Weitzman and Jeff Engle, who at one point represented Shannon.

There is no evidence attached to the motion that any of the people at the courthouse involved in the email chains asked the sender to stop. However, there is also no documented evidence that any of the above names forwarded or passed those emails on.

After the so-called “Porngate” scandal involving controversial emails that rocked Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court, many have pointed out that it is nearly impossible for a person to control the messages that other people send to his or her inbox.

In her motion, Ellenberger argues there is a bigger issue. She says the people defending and prosecuting her client, along with judges, were close enough to be on email chains together that are “making fun of prison rape … highly offensive … racist,” and perpetuating “negative racial stereotypes.”

Ellengerger continues to write that, as a result, “Mr. Shannon’s legal proceedings were never a confrontation between adversaries and thus violated his constitutional guarantees.”

ABC27 called Judge Bratton. He said he could not comment on the motion because he had not read it. When asked why he is stepping down, Bratton referred ABC27 to the statement sent on Friday, citing personal and family reasons.

District Attorney Ed Marsico declined to go on camera. He sent ABC27 an email saying, “These motions to recuse the entire bench and my office are frivolous and based on media reports. There is no conflict of interest with our office handling the case. There is no allegation the office did anything improper.”

On the phone, Marsico reiterated his point that he does not control which messages other people choose to send to his inbox.

Other attorneys spoke with ABC27 on background, saying they would not be surprised to see additional motions or lawsuits surrounding the emails circulating in Dauphin County.

Ata Richard Zandieh aka Ata Zandi Aka Ata Zandieh: Lie Lie and Lie He was forced to resign.

Ata Richard Zandieh aka Ata Zandi Aka Ata Zandieh: Lie Lie and Lie He was forced to resign.: Lie Lie and Lie  He was forced to resign. Media Newsroom  July 08, 2016 -  Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Bruce ...

Lie Lie and Lie He was forced to resign.

Lie Lie and Lie  He was forced to resign. Media Newsroom

July 08, 2016 - Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Bruce F. Bratton to retire in August ​ HARRISBURG, PA (July 8, 2016) – Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Bruce F. Bratton has announced his retirement for personal and family reasons to be effective August 31, 2016, according to county President Judge Richard A. Lewis. Judge Bratton was appointed to the bench by Governor Tom Ridge in 2001 to fill the vacancy of retired judge Clarence C. Morrison. He was elected to a full, 10-year term of office later that year and won retention in 2011. Bratton served as Civil Calendar Judge and presided over civil, family, criminal and Orphans Court matters. Lewis said that Bratton “carved a reputation as an able, insightful and fair jurist, and possessed a special talent for putting pen to paper in a concise, persuasive and often elegant fashion.” Judge Bratton, a Viet Nam veteran, founded the county’s highly successful Veterans Court in 2010, and has continued to preside over the specialty court since its inception. “His passionate interest in the problems and issues involving veterans entangled in the criminal court system, often accompanied and complicated by drug, alcohol and mental health concerns, served as an inspiration for all of us to recognize the importance of creating new approaches to deal with issues of addiction and mental health throughout our court system,” Lewis stated. Lewis further commented that Bratton will likely continue service part time as a Senior Judge. He graduated from Penn State University in 1973 and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law in 1976. Judge Bratton was stationed in the Republic of Viet Nam during his U.S. Army service from 1969 – 1970. Prior to becoming a judge, he practiced law with the Harrisburg firm of Martsolf and Bratton from his admission to the Bar in 1976.​Contact: arichards@dauphinc.org Category: Dauphin County

Ata Richard Zandieh aka Ata Zandi Aka Ata Zandieh: Bruce Bratton Forced to Resign .. RACISM, I am no...

Ata Richard Zandieh aka Ata Zandi Aka Ata Zandieh: Bruce Bratton Forced to Resign .. RACISM, I am no...: Dauphin County judge named in court motion claiming racism: report By  Paul Vigna | pvigna@pennlive.com  Email the author  |  Fol...

Bruce Bratton Forced to Resign .. RACISM, I am not the only one who caught him

Dauphin County judge named in court motion claiming racism: report

By Paul Vigna | pvigna@pennlive.com 
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on July 08, 2016 at 7:58 PM, updated July 09, 2016 at 1:45 PM

Update: DA calls racial bias claim 'outlandish'

Dauphin County Judge Bruce Bratton put in a notice he was resigning one week after a public defender named him in a court motion claiming racism and inappropriate relationships at the courthouse, according to a report.

ABC27 noted in a story published Friday afternoon that Lynn Ellenberger, the public defender, filed the motion at the end of June. The story said that Ellenberger's client is Emanon Shannon, who is serving a prison sentence of 45 to 90 years. Shannon was found guilty of robbery, aggravated assault, and kidnapping, among other charges.

Shannon is African-American, and Ellenberger's motion claimed he cannot get a fair trial in Dauphin County, citing "the appearance, if not the actuality, of a bias and prejudice." To further make her point, she attached several offensive email chains to the court paperwork that she said were received by Bratton, among others.

A spokesperson for Dauphin County said in a statement Friday that Bratton had announced his retirement for personal and family reasons, effective Aug. 31.

Bratton, 67, was appointed to the bench by Gov. Tom Ridge in 2001 to fill the vacancy of retired judge Clarence C. Morrison. He was elected to a full, 10-year term later that year and won retention in 2011. He served as Civil Calendar judge and presided over civil, family, criminal and Orphans Court matters.

Dauphin County judge submits letter of resignation

By Amanda St. HilairePublished: July 7, 2016, 4:58 pm  Updated: September 8, 2016, 9:46 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – ABC27 News has learned Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Bruce F. Bratton is resigning.

Governor Wolf’s office confirms receiving Judge Bratton’s letter of resignation, effective at the end of August.

A spokesperson would not disclose the content of the letter or the reason for Bratton’s resignation.

Governor Wolf says he will work with the Senate to fill the vacancy.

http://abc27.com/2016/07/07/dauphin-county-judge-submits-letter-of-resignation/