HARRISBURG, Pa. — A judge serving in Philadelphia family court has been suspended without pay for the final three months of his tenure after the Court of Judicial Discipline found that his politically motivated social media activity breached the expected conduct standards for judges.
On Monday, the court issued its decision against Common Pleas Judge Mark B. Cohen, who previously had a lengthy career as a Democratic state representative spanning over four decades before his judicial role.
The ruling criticized Cohen for his continuous online sharing of politically charged posts, despite receiving warnings against such behavior.
Cohen’s attorney, Sam Stretton, indicated on Tuesday that an appeal to the state Supreme Court is forthcoming. Stretton portrayed Cohen as an avid reader with extensive knowledge and noted that his blog posts on various public matters have been modified to remove candidate endorsements since he assumed the judiciary more than six years ago.
“I believe it’s essential for judges to have the ability to express themselves cautiously, provided they avoid discussing specific cases or related topics,” Stretton commented.
In a judicial opinion released in May, the court highlighted multiple Facebook posts made by Cohen, some of which praised President Joe Biden’s performance as an “excellent president,” supported the strategies of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner amid impeachment discussions, and voiced a preference for increased domestic spending over military expenditure.
The court stated in May, “Judge Cohen represents all judges in Pennsylvania and bears the responsibility to prevent the public from doubting whether judges act in accordance with the strong beliefs he articulates.”
At 75 years of age, which meets the maximum age requirement for judges, Cohen’s judicial career is set to conclude with the end of his suspension on December 31.
