A Philadelphia judge is facing allegations from a panel claiming he breached state ethics regulations due to his involvement with a gourmet cheesesteak shop managed by his wife. A formal complaint was lodged against Common Pleas Judge Scott DiClaudio by the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board, concerning his connections with Shay’s Steaks, which opened over a year ago not far from City Hall. It’s alleged that DiClaudio leveraged his judicial status to endorse the enterprise.
DiClaudio, who is defending himself, dismissed the complaint during a phone interview. He argued that customers aren’t drawn to the eatery simply because a judge might be preparing their cheesesteak. He claims his role in the shop is within permissible bounds. However, the conduct board highlighted a podcast where DiClaudio opined on the restaurant’s pricing, ingredients, and employee wages, as well as on rival businesses.
“I don’t mind charging $19, because I’m offering a higher-quality steak,” DiClaudio stated on the podcast. Nonetheless, he mentioned his participation in the business has been limited recently due to health issues and parenting responsibilities. Currently, his judicial work is concentrated on post-conviction cases within the criminal court.
The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board is responsible for probing and prosecuting potential judicial misconduct cases. DiClaudio’s case has been brought before the Court of Judicial Discipline. The complaint highlights media coverage linking him to the restaurant, with a note on a particular article appointing him the nickname “whiz honor,” a pun linked to the use of Cheez Whiz on cheesesteaks.
DiClaudio believes his involvement in the restaurant might enhance the public perception of judges by demonstrating they have lives beyond their judicial duties. He feels this builds trust among Philadelphians and portrays the judiciary as more relatable. The eatery is a tribute to his late mother and echoes the legacy of his family’s long-standing luncheonette in South Philly.
His name frequently appears in articles about Shay’s, though he asserts he had no authority over their content and only saw them post-publication. At the restaurant, a sign clearly designates his wife, Jackee DiClaudio, as the proprietor. Both reside in the same building as the eatery. DiClaudio emphasized that Shay’s Steaks has not utilized his judicial identity in marketing and he receives no earnings from it; all profits go to his wife.
The board accuses DiClaudio of not upholding the requirement that judges maintain and enhance public confidence in the judiciary’s independence and integrity. Another claim insists he abused his judicial position to advance personal or financial interests. Renowned ethics lawyer Sam Stretton, who has represented DiClaudio previously, might partake in this case as well. He noted that providing input on matters such as business decisions isn’t necessarily prohibited but remarked the key issue is whether there was self-promotion involved.
Compounding the situation, DiClaudio is currently on probation due to a prior judgment by the Court of Judicial Discipline involving tax liens and non-disclosure of debt, which resulted in several contempt citations. Consequently, he was suspended without pay for a fortnight. To retain eligibility for his pension and healthcare benefits upon retirement, he has to serve an additional two weeks after his term concludes in January 2026. As a member of the Democratic Party, he intends to campaign for another 10-year term, though he is contemplating early retirement if reelected.