Chief Justice’s press release raises ethical concerns for Cody Balmer’s criminal case
TOM, THANK YOU. AND AS MANY PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS SHOWED THEIR SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR SHAPIRO AND HIS FAMILY AFTER SUNDAY’S FIRE, A PRESS RELEASE BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT COULD RAISE SOME ETHICAL CONCERNS FOR THE SUSPECT IN THE CASE. CODY BULMER’S CRIMINAL CASE IN THE FUTURE, CHIEF JUSTICE DEBRA TODD SAID IN A STATEMENT. MY COLLEAGUES AND I SHARE THE DISBELIEF AND OUTRAGE FELT BY ALL PENNSYLVANIANS, AND GOES ON TO CALL THE FIRE A SENSELESS AND DISTURBING ACT. JUDICIAL ETHICS LAWYER SAM STRETTON, FROM CHESTER COUNTY, SAYS HE’S SURPRISED THE CHIEF JUSTICE WOULD ISSUE A STATEMENT LIKE THAT, GIVEN THAT THE CASE AGAINST BULMER IS IN THE PENNSYLVANIA COURT SYSTEM AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT MAY HAVE TO REVIEW THE CASE. STRETTON SAYS HE CAN UNDERSTAND WANTING TO MAKE A COMMENT FROM A HUMANITARIAN STANDPOINT, BUT SAYS ETHICALLY, JUDGES ARE MORE LIMITED IN WHAT THEY CAN OR SHOULD SAY. TODAY, THE CHIEF JUSTICE RELEASED ANOTHER STATEMENT TRYING TO CLARIFY THE FIRST, SAYING THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK IMPACTED OUR GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CITIZENS IN THE AFTERMATH WHEN LITTLE INFORMATION WAS KNOWN AND BEFORE A SUSPECT HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS FELLOW PENNSYLVANIANS, THE MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT EXTENDED COMPASSION AND HEARTFELT CONCERN F
Chief Justice’s press release raises ethical concerns for Cody Balmer’s criminal case
Updated: 8:03 PM EDT Apr 17, 2025
As many people and organizations showed their support for Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family after Sunday’s fire, a press release by the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Debra Todd could raise some ethical concerns for Balmer’s criminal case in the future. “My colleagues and I share the disbelief and outrage felt by all Pennsylvanians,” she wrote, and goes on to call the fire a “senseless and disturbing act.”Judicial ethics lawyer Sam Stretton from Chester County says he’s surprised the Chief Justice would issue a statement like that, given that the case against Balmer is in the Pennsylvania court system and the state Supreme Court may have to review the case. Stretton says he can understand wanting to make a comment from a humanitarian standpoint, but says ethically, judges are more limited in what they can, or should, say. On Thursday, the Chief Justice released another statement, trying to clarify the first. “The events of last week impacted our government institutions, our communities and our citizens. In the aftermath, when little information was known and before a suspect had been identified, as fellow Americans, the members of the Supreme Court extended compassion and heartfelt concern for the governor, first responders and all affected,” Todd said.
As many people and organizations showed their support for Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family after Sunday’s fire, a press release by the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Debra Todd could raise some ethical concerns for Balmer’s criminal case in the future.
“My colleagues and I share the disbelief and outrage felt by all Pennsylvanians,” she wrote, and goes on to call the fire a “senseless and disturbing act.”
Judicial ethics lawyer Sam Stretton from Chester County says he’s surprised the Chief Justice would issue a statement like that, given that the case against Balmer is in the Pennsylvania court system and the state Supreme Court may have to review the case.
Stretton says he can understand wanting to make a comment from a humanitarian standpoint, but says ethically, judges are more limited in what they can, or should, say.
On Thursday, the Chief Justice released another statement, trying to clarify the first.
“The events of last week impacted our government institutions, our communities and our citizens. In the aftermath, when little information was known and before a suspect had been identified, as fellow Americans, the members of the Supreme Court extended compassion and heartfelt concern for the governor, first responders and all affected,” Todd said.
