Anthony Williams calls for resignation of justice over emails

     Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, says there should be no room on the bench for Justice Michael Eakin, who apologized for 'any insensitive content' earlier this month. (NewsWorks file photo)

    Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, says there should be no room on the bench for Justice Michael Eakin, who apologized for 'any insensitive content' earlier this month. (NewsWorks file photo)

    A high-ranking state senator is calling for the resignation of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice who is under investigation for having offensive e-mails in a private account.

     

    Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, the Senate Democratic whip, said there should be no room on the bench for Justice Michael Eakin, who apologized for “any insensitive content” earlier this month.

    The Senate Democratic caucus is not taking a position on Eakin’s next steps, but Williams said he’s not willing to stay mum about messages that reportedly contain racial and misogynistic humor.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    “I waited for about a week to hear the ‘timber’ moment, where people would be appropriately outraged and driving him from the court,” said Williams. “And I frankly don’t think we’ve had one.”

    The emails contain a series of offensive and stereotypical jokes. The messages were flagged by state Attorney General Kathleen Kane, and described in more detail in a previous NewsWorks report.

    The Supreme Court and a judicial panel both dispute whether they had access to the emails during reviews conducted last year.

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal