By P.J. D’Annunzio
Of the Legal Staff
A Chester County senior magisterial district judge has been assigned to the preliminary hearing on rape charges against a Montgomery County lawyer and ex-GOP chairman.
Senior District Judge Susann Welsh is set to preside over Friday’s hearing for former Montgomery County GOP Chairman Robert J. Kerns, who is charged with 19 criminal counts including rape and sexual assault.
The charges against Kerns, which stem from an alleged incident on Oct. 25, include rape of an unconscious victim, rape of an impaired person, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, possession of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver and tampering with/fabricating physical evidence, according to the docket.
Art Heinz, spokesman for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, said a request for a senior district judge outside of Montgomery County came to the AOPC from 38th Judicial District President Judge William J. Furber Jr.’s office on Dec. 4 and was approved by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille on Dec. 12.
Heinz said the request from the county “was made in light of the countywide nature of Mr. Kern’s prior position.” And that the judge formerly assigned to the hearing, Magisterial District Judge Robert M. Sobeck, recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
Heinz said the AOPC maintains a list of senior district judges who are called upon as needed to hear cases in a region close to the ones where they are requested.
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