PITTSBURGH (AP) — Twelve jurors and one alternate have been selected for the corruption trial involving suspended Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin and her sister, Janine.
They are charged with illegally using Melvin's former Superior Court staff to run her political campaigns. Both deny wrongdoing.
Three more alternate jurors must still be selected. Opening statements are set for Friday.
Allegheny County prosecutors said Melvin used her taxpayer-funded staff to campaign for the state's highest court in 2003 and 2009.
The women are also charged with conspiring with a third sister -- former Republican state Sen. Jane Orie -- to illegally use Orie's state-funded staff to work on Melvin's campaigns.
Orie is incarcerated for misusing her staff on her own campaigns. She was acquitted of using staff to help Melvin campaign.
WPXI
