Judge Removed from Bench After Colleague Claims Influence in Case

Judge Scott DiClaudio Placed on Administrative Leave Amid Allegations of Case Influence

A Philadelphia judge has been placed on administrative leave following allegations that he attempted to influence a criminal case, according to sources within the criminal justice system. Common Pleas Court Judge Scott DiClaudio was removed from the bench last month after a fellow judge claimed DiClaudio approached him about a case and suggested that he should give the defendant a favorable sentence.

Four anonymous sources, who spoke under the condition of confidentiality, shared these details. The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board is currently investigating the matter, as confirmed by the sources. However, no official statements have been released regarding the investigation’s scope or findings.

DiClaudio, through his attorney Michael van der Veen, has strongly denied the allegations. Van der Veen stated that Judge DiClaudio is “a well-respected jurist” and has not done anything wrong. He criticized what he described as “incorrect and inaccurate rumors related to influencing criminal case outcomes.”

Marty O’Rourke, a spokesperson for the courts, confirmed that DiClaudio was placed on leave on June 25 but declined to provide further comments. Melissa L. Norton, chief counsel for the judicial conduct board, noted that the board’s work is confidential and that its findings are not made public unless formal charges are brought against a judge.

Van der Veen emphasized that there was “no formal complaint” before the Judicial Conduct Board related to the allegations. He also mentioned that if there were any complaints, they would be confidential, and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.

The case in question involved a defendant who is a friend of Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill. DiClaudio is also known to be friends with Mill and has engaged in discussions about criminal justice reform with him. Sources indicated that DiClaudio has even posed for photos with the rapper, including one inside a city courtroom, and appeared on stage with Mill during his performance at the Roots Picnic on June 1.

According to the sources, Common Pleas Court Judge Zachary Shaffer reported that DiClaudio approached him privately and showed him a piece of paper containing a case number and the name of a defendant. Shaffer was presiding over the case and was scheduled to sentence the defendant in the coming weeks. DiClaudio then ripped up the paper and told Shaffer he believed the judge would “do the right thing” in the case.

Shaffer believed that DiClaudio was trying to influence his decision in favor of the defendant and immediately recused himself from the case. He then reported the conversation to his supervisors, who filed a complaint with the judicial conduct board. Officials with the First Judicial District did not make Shaffer or his supervisors available for an interview.

The case involved Dwayne Jones, a fitness trainer who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of illegal gun possession. He was arrested in October 2024 after police said he shot and killed a 33-year-old man who tried to rob him. Prosecutors later determined that he acted in self-defense, but because of his prior felony convictions, he was charged with illegal gun possession. Sentencing guidelines called for up to more than 10 years in prison.

After Shaffer recused himself, the case was transferred to Common Pleas Court Judge J. Scott O’Keefe, who sentenced Jones to 111/2 to 23 months of house arrest, plus three years’ probation. Jones, in an interview, said he did not believe he had ever met DiClaudio and had no idea why the judge might have asked a colleague about his case.

DiClaudio has served on the bench since 2016 and has presided over many high-profile exonerations and wrongful-conviction cases. He has also drawn attention for publicly criticizing prosecutors in District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office.

In 2020, DiClaudio was suspended for two weeks and placed on probation through 2026 after violating the code of conduct for judges. Earlier this year, the board filed charges against him again, accusing him of using his position to promote his wife’s cheesesteak shop. DiClaudio has denied the allegations, and the case is pending before the Court of Judicial Discipline.

Some attorneys who have worked with DiClaudio have praised his legal expertise and efficiency in resolving post-conviction appeals. In an email, Van der Veen highlighted DiClaudio’s record on the bench, stating that he has presided over thousands of cases and is universally respected as a fair and impartial judge. He reiterated that DiClaudio has not done anything wrong in any matter.