Eakin: Emails were never meant to be public

A Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice who may be suspended for exchanging objectionable emails with friends said they were never meant to be public.

Justice Michael Eakin’s lawyers filed a response Wednesday, a week after the Judicial Conduct Board accused him of violating judicial and constitutional codes of conduct.

Eakin said he didn’t necessarily open all of the emails cited as evidence against him and says none of the emails he sent contain pornography.

And he “vehemently denies” the board’s allegations he engaged in conduct so extreme it brought the judicial office into disrepute.

Eakin faces a Court of Judicial Discipline hearing Monday that could lead to his suspension from the bench.