Complaint against controversial local magistrate dismissed
Channel 11 has learned that a complaint filed against controversial Magistrate Xander Orenstein with the state Judicial Conduct Board has been dismissed.
The decision comes as multiple lawmakers and law enforcement leaders continue to call for the judge's dismissal.
Orenstein was barred from hearing arraignments last April after a slew of controversial rulings
RELATED COVERAGE >>> Local magistrate Xander Orenstein pulled from arraignments 'until further notice,' sources say
'It's incredibly disappointing,' State Rep. Valerie Gaydos said. She filed the complaint and told Channel 11 Orenstein had engaged in a pattern of poor judgment.
Channel 11 has reported on Orenstein since 2023, when the judge released a man accused of trafficking millions of dollars of drugs into Pittsburgh on a Greyhound Bus on non-monetary bond. The suspect fled and took months to find.
RELATED COVERAGE >>> 'Very dangerous decision': DA was not notified of accused drug trafficker's release from jail
Orenstein was also criticized for releasing a high-speed chase suspect and another man police say violently attacked an elderly man downtown.
Most recently, Orenstein released Anthony Quesen on non-monetary bond after a 2023 assault at Point State Park. Police later arrested Quesen in connection to the stabbing death of off-duty state liquor enforcement officer Benjamin Brallier along the Montour Trail.
In its ruling, the PCB determined 'the result of its inquiry does not support a finding of probable cause of any judicial misconduct.'
'What it really comes down to is that has this judge done something that is specifically identified as illegal. The answer is no,' Gaydos said.
'The next step we can take is we're going to move forward with impeachment articles,' State Sen. Devlin Robinson said.
The impeachment process begins in the House and then goes to the Senate.
Gaydos cautions that the impeachment process could be lengthy and expensive.
'I think the only real solution is to un-elect judge Orenstein,' she said.
We did attempt to reach Magistrate Orenstein for comment on this story but did not hear back. Orenstein has yet to comment on any of our reporting.
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